THE 


BLACK   MAN; 


OE, 


HAITIAN  INDEPENDENCE. 


DEDUCED  FROM 


HISTORICAL   NOTES, 


AND 


to  tk  4Mwtnmit  airtr  people  jof  $iagti. 


M.    &. 

Nearly  Thirty  Years  a  Resident  Missionary  in  the 
Haytian  Republic. 


NEW    YOBK: 
PUBLISHED    BY   THE    AUTHOR. 

TRADE   SUPPLIED    BY 

THE    AMERICAN    NE  WS    COMPANY, 

117,  119,  and  121  Nassau  Street. 

18C9. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1SG9, 

By  M.  B.  BIKD, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court,  for  the  Southern  District  of 
New  York. 


JOHN  J.  REED,  Printer,  43Centie  St.,  N.  Y. 


321 


©ffitial  gUprt  nf  %  temtssiim, 

FORMED  BY  THE  HAYTIAN  SECRETARY  OF  STATE,  FOR  THE  EX 
AMINATION   OF   THE   GENERAL   MERITS  AND   BEARING  OF  THE 

PRESENT  VOLUME. 

PORT  AU  PRINCE,  HAYTI,          ) 
November  Uth,  1867.    ) 

SIR, — The  Commission  having  gone  through  the  examina 
tion  of  the  work  on  Ilayti,  by  the  Rev.  M.  B.  BIRD,  now 
forward  you  their  report  on  that  Manuscript. 

1st.  Although  it  does  not  profess  to  be  a  full  and  entire 
history  of  Hay ti,  it  begins  with  the  discovery  of  the  Island ; 
gives  a  sketch  of  the  French  Colonial  system,  shows  the  dif 
ficulties  and  struggles  connected  with  the  establishment  of 
the  Independence  of  our  Republic,  and  continues  a  line  of 
Haytian  history  down  to  the  fall  of  General  Geffrard. 

2nd.  The  entire  history,  as  it  is  given,  is  in  the  spirit  of  a 
friend,  and  at  the  same  time,  with  perfect  frankness :  the  de 
tails  of  domestic  manners  are  evidently  given  in  the  sense  of 
one  greatly  attached  to  our  country. 

3rd.  The  Republican  institutions  of  Ilayti,  and  their  po 
litical  influence  upon  the  masses,  are  given  as  facts,  without 
entering  into  the  supposed  motives  by  which  they  may  have 
been  dictated. 

4th.  The  Commission  recommends  and  encourages  the 
publication  of  this  work,  as  useful  to  Hayti  itself,  as  well  as 
to  its  foreign  friends.  We  wish  its  author  to  receive  every 
support,  and  we  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  its  publication 
would  be  to  the  interest  of  our  branch  of  the  human  family, 

M904183 


IV  OFFICIAL   EEPOET,    ETC. 

first  iu  the  English  language,  which  is  so  widely   spoken 
both  in  the  West  Indies  and  on  the  American  continent. 

5th.  Hayti  has  great  need  of  Immigration,  hence  it  is  de 
sirable  that  the  seven  or  eight  millions  of  African  descend 
ants  in  the  new  world,  which  speak  the  English  language, 
should  understand  the  merits  and  resources  of  Hayti. 
•'  6th.  The  Commission,  under  the  influence  of  these  views 
and  convictions,  sincerely  desire  the  publication  of  this  work, 
and  they  earnestly  hope  that  Mr.  BIRD  may  be  assisted  in 
every  way  in  his  good  intentions. 

The  Commission,  Mr.   Secretary  of  State,  beg  to  assure 
you  of  their  highest  consideration. 

(Signed) 

W.  G.  SMITH,  M.  D.,  Chairman  of  Commission  ; 

GENERAL  ST.  LUCIEN  ; 

GENERAL  J.  LAMOTHE  ; 

JUDGE  Boco  ; 

J.  B.  DEHOUX,  M.  D.; 

A.  AUDAIN,  M.  D.; 

S.  PRESTON,  ESQ.; 

J.  J.  RIVIERE,  Ex-Mayor  of  Port  au  Prince  , 

GENERAL  A.  TATE,  Secretary  of  State  ; 

P.  ETHEART,  Under  Secretary  of  State  ; 

J.  B.  HEPBURN,  Esq.; 

D.  BOWLER,  ESQ.; 

C.  PRESSOIR,  Esq.; 

0.  RIVIERE,  Esq.; 

JUDGE  LACRUZ,  absent  by  sickness  ; 

G.  LOPEZ,  Editor,  etc.; 

G.  LAFONTANT,  Esq.,  called  away. 


PREFACE. 


VARIOUS  views  having  been  entertained,  even  by  the 
friends  of  Hayti,  as  to  the  real  merits  of  its  Independence, 
it  is  only  due  to  the  Haytian  Republic,  that  a  fair  statement 
should  appear  before  the  world  on  this  subject  ;  hence,  one 
of  the  leading  purposes  of  the  present  work  is,  to  show  what 
that  Independence  has  been  ;  nor  has  it  been  thought  that 
this  could  be  fairly  done,  without  bringing  out  both  the 
merits  and  demerits  of  this  interesting  question ;  the  national 
faults,  therefore,  are  brought  out  in  the  sense  of  true  and 
sincere  friendship,  and  pointed  to  as  rocks  to  be  shuuned  in 
the  nation's  future  course. 

Hayti  herself  makes  no  pretensions  to  superiority  ;  her 
enlightened  sons  are  conscious  of  national  defects  ;  it  must, 
however,  be  acknowledged  that  injustice  has  been  done  her, 
especially  when  the  great  and  extraordinary  difficulties  of  her 
career  are  fairly  considered  from  the  beginning  ;  difficulties 
which  must  have  rendered  Independence,  in  her  case,  impos 
sible,  had  there  not  been  real  stamina  somewhere. 

From  the  title-page  of  this  work  it  will  be  seen  that  it  de 
signs  to  show  what  Haytian  Independence  has  been,  rather  than 
what  it  might  or  ought  to  have  been  ;  its  real  merits,  after  a 
candid  examination  of  what  is  here  advanced,  must  be  left  to 
the  fair  and  honest  judgment  of  mankind. 

It  is  of  the  highest  importance  to  remember  in  Haytian 
history,  that  although  the  Haytians  fought  for  the  main 
tenance  of  their  freedom,  they  did  not  themselves  choose  or 
seek  Independence  ;  this  was  rather  forced  upon  them  by  cir 
cumstances  which  they  never  sought,  and  which  were  utterly 


VI  PREFACE. 

beyond  their  control.  The  wish  of  Hayti,  evidently  was,  to 
remain  faithful  to  France,  but  the  history  of  the  case  will 
show  that  this  ultimately  became  impossible  ;  in  fact,  the 
case  is  clear,  that  Toussaint  L'Ouverture  would  have  remained 
faithful  to  France,  but  lie  was  convinced  at  last  that  her 
purpose  was  to  re-enslave  his  people. 

The  purpose  of  the  present  production  is  neither  eulogism 
nor  censure,  but  rather  to  make  a  fair  statement  of  facts  and 
circumstances  as  they  have  occurred,  and  thus  to  bring  out  a 
picture  which  has  been  the  production  of  extraordinary  Prov 
idences,  ruling  in  the  storms  of  human  passions  ;  a  picture 
made  striking  by  the  great  Master  of  events  ;  in  fact,  the 
whole  case  of  Hayti  seems  to  indicate  something  altogether 
unusual,  a  special  purpose  on  the  part  of  Providence  in  render 
ing  her  independence  inevitable,  seems  to  be  singularly  man 
ifest  ;  it  will,  therefore,  be  easily  understood  that  the  hope 
of  rendering  service  to  Hayti  herself,  constitutes  one  of  the 
leading  motives  of  the  work  now  before  us,  and  may  ulti 
mately  lead  to  its  translation  into  the  French  language. 
But  the  fact  of  seven  or  eight  millions  of  the  descendants  of 
Africa  in  the  new  world,  speaking  the  English  language, 
seems  to  render  it  desirable  that  it  should  first  appear  as  an 
English  work,  the  more  so,  as  one  of  the  leading  objects  is, 
the  general  interests  of  the  "  Black  Man." 

Reasonings  and  opinions  of  different  shades  and  bearings 
have  indeed  been  expressed  and  pursued  in  the  course  of  this 
work,  as  the  result  of  long  experience  and  continuous  obser 
vation,  and  with  an  earnest  desire  for  the  welfare  of  the 
descendants  of  Africa  in  the  new  world  ;  but  they  must, 
together  with  the  general  subject  in  which  they  have  all 
originated,  be  left  before  the  tribunal  of  a  Christian  public. 

The  present  volume  might  be  considered  as  a  plea  for  in 
dependence,  whenever  the  indications  of  Providence  seem 
plainly  to  point  to  it,  for  whatever  reasons,  hence  the  present 
work  is  preceded  by  an  introduction,  having  for  its  object  the 


PREFACE.  Vll 

general  development  of  this  important  question,  and  espe 
cially  as  it  is  here  meant. 

It  will,  therefore,  be  seen  that  independence,  as  it  regards 
both  Hayti  and  Liberia,  is  here  considered  as  a  vital  point, 
not  indeed  in  any  exclusive  or  isolated  sense,  yet  still,  in  the 
strictest  sense  of  national  identity,  which  might,  and  should 
be,  compatible  with  the  same  liberality  towards  foreigners, 
as  is  practiced  by  France,  America,  and  England,  and  as  un 
questionably  will  ultimately  be  imposed,  by  the  power  of 
universal  light  and  interest,  upon  the  human  race  at  large, 
as  the  natural  and  inevitable  result  of  that  close  contact,  into 
which  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  must  ultimately  be  brought, 
by  means  of  electricity  and  steam. 

It  has  been  thought  that  the  present  moment  is  peculiarly 
adapted  to  the  appearance  of  these  "  Historical  Notes,"  etc., 
for  it  is  undeniable,  that  the  course  of  events  with  regard  to 
the  descendants  of  Africa,  has  brought  out,  by  extraordinary 
means  and  circumstances,  the  clearest  and  strongest  proofs 
of  a  Divine  rule  in  human  affairs,  that  were  ever  made  visible 
to  mortals  ;  hence  we  have  recently  seen,  both  in  America 
and  Europe,  some  of  the  greatest  struggles  which  have  ever 
been  known  among  men,  followed  by  such  an  extraordinary 
remodeling  of  nations,  as  was  never  before  recorded  on  the 
page  of  human  history,  the  well  pronounced  supreme  will 
having  been,  that  some  should  entirely  disappear,  while 
others  should  stand  fast,  with  even  great  acquisitions  ! 
Many  are  the  indications  which  might  be  regarded  as  ex 
pressions  of  the  Divine  will,  that  Hayti  should  remain  an 
Independent  Nation  ;  this,  however,  will  not  hinder  the 
coming  on  of  a  power  of  circumstances,  which  will  compel  her 
to  develop  and  practice  those  true  principles  of  Liberty, 
which  alone  can  secure  her  destiny,  independence  and  per 
manent  prosperity. 

It  will  be  seen,  both  in  the  introduction  and  also  in  the 
body  of  this  work,  that  the  formation  of  national  independ- 


Till  PKEFACE. 

encies,  by  the  Black  and  Colored  people  of  the  American 
continent,  is  freely  entered  into,  as  a  question  which  can  now 
involve  no  injury  to  any  interest  or  community.  Political 
Justice  having  finally  placed  all  shades  of  complexion  on  the 
same  level,  this  question  is  made  both  an  open  and  a  fair  one, 
and  like  every  other,  is  to  be  either  received  or  rejected,  as 
opinions  may  prevail. 

The  subject  of  Independence,  in  the  sense  here  advocated, 
is  not  of  recent  adoption  by  the  author,  as  may  be  seen  by 
the  "  Liberia  Herald/7  under  the  title  of  "  A  Yoice  to  Li 
beria,"  for  1858  ;  nor  are  the  convictions  which  constitute 
the  subject  of  that  piece,  in  the  slightest  degree  lessened  by 
passing  events. 

It  will,  however,  be  seen  that  isolated  independence  is 
not  here  advocated,  but  simply  that  which  constitutes  the 
glory  of  France,  England,  and  America,  compatible  with  the 
strictest  identity,  and  at  the  same  time  with  the  most  un 
bounded  intercourse  with  the  whole  human  family,  without 
which,  these  last  named  nations  never  would  have  been  what 
they  now  are. 

The  discovery  of  Haytl  and  its  aboriginal  inhabitants  are 
but  glanced  at  in  this  work  ;  nor  has  it  been  possible  to 
enter  very  extensively  into  the  Colonial  system  under  the 
French,  although  it  should  not  be  forgotten  that  the  leading 
minds  in  the  Haytian  Revolution  had  been  fostered  under 
Colonial  rule  ;  and  it  is  due  to  Hayti  to  state  here,  that  one 
of  her  ablest  and  most  worthy  citizens,*  has  done  justice  to 
his  Colonial  Black  and  Colored  predecessors,  in  the  great 
work  of  Haytiau  Independence,  by  transmitting  to  posterity 
both  their  names  and  deeds. 

The  following  extract,  from  the  author  just  referred  to, 
will  become  this  preface  : 

"Before  the  proclamation  of  Independence,  or  the  final  orga 
nization  of  the  Country,  there  were  men  among  us  who  did  not 

*  Beauvais  Lespinasse. 


PREFACE.  IX 

hesitate  to  sacrifice  themselves  for  the  future  happiness  of  the 
African  race,  and  it  would  be  impossible  not  to  admire  the  courage 
shown,  by  some  of  them,  in  the  midst  of  slavery  and  prejudice, 
while  the  volunteered,  and  self-inflicted  hardships  and  privations  of 
others  who  sheltered  themselves  from  despotism,  in  inaccessible 
mountains,  is  worthy  of  note. 

"What  anguish,  what  tribulation  prepared  men  for  the  hour 
of  bloodshed  in  the  cause  of  liberty  and  independence  ! 

"Would  Julieu  Raymond,  Ferrand  de  Baudieres,  Oge, 
Chauvanncs,  Boury,  Pinchinat,  Bauvais,  Lambert,  Rigaud,  Villate, 
Boukrnan,  Jean  Francois  Biassous,  Polverel  Santhonasse,  Tous- 
saint  L'ouverture,  Moise,  Charles  Belar,  Sylla,  Sans  Souci,  Lamour 
Derance,  leave  us  at  rest  in  our  work  of  1804  if  we  did  not  ac 
knowledge  the  services  they  rendered  us  ?" 

The  author  himself  admits  their  excesses  ;  it  must,  how 
ever,  be  confessed  that  but  few  of  the  noted  leaders  of  man 
kind  have  come  out  of  the  great  battle  for  human  liberties 
unstained. 

It  will  doubtless  be  evident  that  it  has  been  the  design  of 
this  work  to  bring  out  the  religious  and  general  moral  bear 
ing  of  Hayti.  This,  to  the  sincere  Christian,  will  be  deeply 
painful  and  distressing  ;  it  is,  however,  hoped  that  this  ques 
tion  is  made  sufficiently  clear,  not  only  to  show  the  national 
character  in  this  sense,  but  also  to  convince  the  Evangelical 
Churches  of  America  and  Europe,  that  if  Hayti  had  had 
the  attentions  which  were  unquestionably  due,  not  only  to 
her  peculiar  and  extraordinary  circumstances,  but  to  the  spirit 
of  religious  liberty  which  she  has  so  long  manifested,  her  po 
sition,  in  a  moral  point  of  view,  might  at  this  moment  have 
been  wholly  different  to  what  it  is,  as  may  be  easily  and 
justly  inferred  from  the  statistics  of  Protestantism,  here 
given,  showing  au  extent  of  success  which,  in  so  Roman  Ca 
tholic  a  country,  is  certainly  worthy  of  special  notice  ;  the 
more  so,  when  the  very  limited  means  by  which  it  has  all 
been  accomplished,  are  fairly  considered. 

But  we  now  leave  this  production,  with  all  its  defects,  be- 


X  PEEFACE. 

fore  the  world,  as  having  originated  in  a  desire  to  maintain 
right  principle,  and  render  it  triumphant,  by  doing  justice  to 
Ilayti  ;  for,  whatever  may  have  been  or  still  are  its  defects, 
they  have  resulted  from  that  depravity  of  fallen  man,  which 
is  so  fully  recognized  by  the  Christian  Church,  and  which 
she  binds  herself  to  correct,  by  her  declarations  to  the  world 
that  she  possesses  all  that  is  necessary  for  the  healing  of  the 
nations  ! 

A  residence  of  nearly  thirty  years,  among  a  newly 
formed  nation  such  as  Hayti,  as  in  some  sense  a  Teacher,  will 
perhaps  be  a  sufficient  apology  for  a  didactic  tone,  now  and 
then  seemingly  assumed,  sincerely  meant  as  a  friendly  warning 
of  those  rocks  ahead,  on  which  so  many  nations  have 
ah-eady  wrecked. 


INTRODUCTORY    REMARKS 

ON     THE     ADVANTAGES     OF 

NATIONAL     INDEPENDENCE, 

AS    A    GENERAL    QUESTION. 


The  realm  of  liberty  alone,  I  call 
My  home  ! 


THE  present  production  on  Hayti  is  by  no  means  intended 
as  a  full  history  of  that  country,  although  the  events  re 
corded  are  generally  placed  in  chronological  order,  and  it  is 
presumed  that  the  main  out-lines  of  its  history  may  be  found 
embodied  in  the  work. 

The  main  design  of  the  present  effort  is  to  bring  out  one 
great  and  important  fact,  which  the  great  Ruler  of  all  things 
lias  so  manifestly  established,  by  those  various  divisions  of 
the  human  race,  which  at  present  make  up  the  great  family 
of  man. 

The  fact  in  question  is,  simply,  that  the  spirit  of  emulation, 
which  doubtless  has  designedly  resulted  from  the  divisions 
and  independencies  which  at  present  exist  among  mankind, 
is  most  salutary  and  powerful,  bringing  out  as  it  does  and 
must,  not  only  the  capacities  of  our  being,  but  also  the  vast 
resources  of  nature  in  general  ;  this  same  principle  is  also  ac 
tively  and  perseveringly  developed  between  families  and  com 
munities,  and  is  evidently  intended  to  keep  the  entire  human 


Xll  INTRODUCTORY   REMARKS. 

family  in  the  most  productive  activity  ;  hence  history  has 
made  it  manifest  that  this  great  moving  principle  has  ever 
been  the  most  active  and  powerful  among  the  most  ad 
vanced  nations  in  all  ages  of  the  world  ;  nor  is  it  less  power 
ful  at  present  than  it  has  ever  been  in  any  former  age  of 
human  history  ;  in  fact,  never  did  this  principle  work  with 
such  driving  power  as  in  the  present  advanced  state  of 
everything. 

We  find  yet  that  the  most  distinctive  peculiarities 
attach  to  all  the  great  divisions  of  mankind.  The 
Anglo-Saxon,  Celtic,  and  Teutonic  branches,  as  well  as 
others,  have  their  various  and  distinctive  peculiarities,  while 
at  the  same  time  this  is  to  be  understood,  simply  in  the  sense 
of  fact,  not  at  all  in  the  sense  of  excluding  barriers,  or  in 
the  slightest  degree  interfering  with  mutual  and  cordial 
intercourse. 

That  Africa,  therefore,  and  its  descendants  should  form  a 
distinct  branch  of  mankind,  would  seem  to  be  only  in  the 
natural  order  of  things  ;  nor  does  it  follow  that  this  should 
be  understood  in  any  exclusive  sense,  but  simply  in  the  sense 
explained  by  God  himself,  in  what  is  so  plainly  to  be  seen  in 
the  various  ranks  and  orders  of  human  beings,  scattered  over 
the  face  of  the  earth,  in  the  forms  of  families,  tribes,  and 
nations,  all  of  which  have  ever  instinctively  recognized  a  uni 
versal  brotherhood  ! 

Hence  Independence,  as  it  is  distributed  by  Divine  Prov 
idence  over  the  world,  shows  a  just  and  salutary  principle  ; 
there  is  nothing  in  it  exclusive,  and  its  useful  working 
among  the  nations  is  evident,  yea,  the  hope  we  derive  from 
it  is  great  and  good,  serving  as  it  does  as  one  of  the  main 
springs  in  the  general  welfare  of  the  world. 

We  may,  therefore,  take  it  up  as  a  great  fact,  that  the 
civilized  divisions  of  man  never  would,  or  could,  have  been 
what  they  are  but  for  their  independence,  and  that  as  a 
whole,  the  grand  spectacle  of  human  activity  and  develop- 


INTRODUCTORY   REMARKS.  Xlll 

ment,  commercially,  scientifically,  and  even  religously,  would 
never  otherwise  have  been  what  they  now  are.  The  emu 
lating  power  which  has  ever  existed  among  them  all,  has 
produced  that  admirable  and  ever  working  whole,  which  now 
offers  to  the  general  gaze  of  universal  intelligence. 

With  these  views  before  us,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  work 
in  question,  bearing  the  title  of  the  "  Black  Man,"  etc.,  has 
for  one  of  its  objects,  to  show,  that  the  divisions  of  the 
human  race  are  only  a  part  of  the  order  of  things,  and  that, 
therefore,  Africa,  and  her  widely  spread  children,  constitute 
one  main  division  in  this  great  whole. 

That  Ilayti  should  be  at  the  head  of  an  African  subdi 
vision  cannot  be  any  matter  of  surprise,  nor  can  the  design 
of  her  independence  fail  of  being  recognized. 

Hence  our  present  direct  purpose  is  to  bring  out  the  fact, 
that  the  Haylian  Republic  possesses  in  itself  every  material, 
and  resource  of  every  kind,  to  place  it  on  a  level  with  any 
other  nation  as  to  general  merit,  and  at  the  same  time  to 
show  what  the  Haytian  people  are,  mentally,  morally,  or 
otherwise. 

It  will  also  be  the  aim  of  the  following  pages,  to  demon 
strate  from  the  history  of  Hayti  itself,  that  she  never  could 
have  been  what  she  now  is,  but  for  her  independence,  what 
ever  may  have  been,  or  still  are,  the  defects  of  her  Govern 
ment,  or  the  management  of  any  of  the  departments  of  the 
national  interests,  which  it  need  not  be  concealed  are  many. 

The  great  imperfections  of  Ilayti  stand  out  before  the 
world,  and  although  the  intelligent  Haytians  themselves  are 
ever  ready  to  recognize  them,  yet  they  justly  demand  that 
the  exceptional  circumstances  of  their  origin  as  a  nation,  over 
which  they  had  no  control,  should  be  fairly  considered,  not 
indeed  in  the  sense  of  justifying  error  of  any  kind,  but 
rather  as  explanatory,  especially  as  the  Haytians,  as  a  peo 
ple,  can  only  be  considered  as  simply  on  their  way  to  under 
stand  the  true  principles  of  free  Government,  they  never 


XIV  INTRODUCTORY   REMARKS. 

having  been  transmitted  to  them  by  their  wiser  French 
predecessors. 

The  present  volume  is  also  intended  to  remind  all  who  are 
disposed  to  think  fairly  and  dispassionately  on  the  national 
character  of  Hayti,  that  nations,  as  well  as  individuals,  in 
variably  receive  the  stamp  of  the  circumstances  which  gave 
them  birth,  and  which,  should  they  have  been  unhappy,  can 
not  be  effaced  but  by  long  years  of  every  kind  of  im 
provement. 

With  this  fact  in  view,  it  will  not  be  difficult  to  understand 
the  peculiarities  and  characteristics  of  the  people  in  question, 
for  Hayti  must,  after  all,  be  judged  by  the  depths  of  error 
and  injustice  from  which  she,  as  a  nation,  has  risen  into  ex 
istence  ;  she  did  not,  like  some,  spring  from  free  institutions, 
notwithstanding  they  were  her  aim — she  indeed  rushed  toward 
them,  but  to  arrive  at  the  accomplishment  of  her  wishes,  she 
had  to  make  her  way  through  fiercely  conflicting  elements 
of  every  kind  ;  the  instinctive  longings  for  liberty  were  there, 
but  how  to  use  it,  when  once  seized,  was  yet  to  be  learnt. 

It  is  not,  however,  intended  by  anything  here  advanced  that 
nations,  as  well  as  individuals,  never  create  their  circum 
stances,  or  that  they  are  not  responsible  for  their  need  of 
reformation,  whenever  progress  and  amelioration  may  have 
been  at  their  command,  nor  is  it  pretended  here,  for  a  moment, 
to  justify  the  present  condition  of  the  masses  of  the  Republic 
of  Hayti  ;  guilt  is  unquestionably  at  her  door  in  this  matter. 

The  history  of  this  Republic  has  yet  to  be  written,  and 
whenever  it  is  fairly  brought  out  it  will  show  that  the  inten- 
sest  fervor  in  the  cause  of  Liberty — without  that  wholesome 
moral  power — which  is  to  be  found  in  Christianity  only, 
places  a  nation  on  a  dangerous  track. 

The  bare  events,  making  up  this  general  history,  are  already 
well  recorded  and  detailed  by  several  Haytian  authors  of  de 
served  celebrity,  particularly  by  T.  Madiou  (Fils),  and  B. 
Ardouin  ;  but  to  bring  out  all  the  lights  and  shades  of  that 


INTRODUCTORY   REMARKS.  XV 

phase  of  humanity,  which  a  full  and  entire  history  of  Hayti 
in  all  its  bearings  must  present,  remains  yet  to  be  done,  and 
doubtless  will  be  accomplished  by  some  able  Ilaytiau  pen  at 
a  future  day,  to 'the  advantage  not  only  of  the  great 
African  family,  but  to  man  at  large — a  work  the  more  to  be  de 
sired  from  the  fact,  that  the  enemies  of  the  African  race  are 
not  yet  entirely  silenced. 

The  dark  shades  of  Slavery,  which  for  many  years  have 
hung  over  mankind,  withering  and  concealing  so  much  of  real 
worth  in  man,  and  especially  as  to  the  true  character  of  the 
African,  are  now  rapidly  dispersing,  and  the  clear  light  of 
simple  truth  is  breaking  forth,  which  shall  ultimately  expose 
all  false  reasoning  and  demonstrate  that  man  is  man,  of  every 
hue.  Clouds,  indeed,  still  roll  over  us,  and  long  will,  but  the 
glorious  sun  of  truth  is,  nevertheless,  rising  to  its  zenith  ! 

The  forming  power  of  Independence  upon  nations  and  in 
dividuals,  is  too  evident  to  need  any  reasoning  ;  those  who 
have  well  noted  the  influence  and  power  of  national  institu 
tions  upon  collective  masses,  as  well  as  upon  individual  char 
acter,  will  be  prepared  to  understand  the  difference,  between 
the  Black  Man  independent,  and,  in  a  national  sense,  in  his 
own  house,  under  a  Government  of  his  own  formation,  and 
the  one  under  the  influence  of  a  foreign  element,  although 
probably  with  vast  advantages. 

It  is  not  intended  that  there  are  no  advantages  to  be  de 
rived  from  contact  with  a  superior  element,  but  it  is  main 
tained  that  there  is  an  ennobling  power  in  true  and  well-man 
aged  Independence  ;  and  that  general  contact,  in  this  sense 
only,  has  its  full  effect,  when  the  soul  of  Independence  is 
present  ;  hence  the  manly  bearing  of  the  Ilaytian,  which  is 
unquestionably  the  result  of  his  own  national  institutions,  in 
dependence,  and  education. 

It  will,  of  course,  be  understood  that  we  are  not  here 
speaking  of  the  ignorant  masses  of  the  people,  although  even 
with  them  an  air  of  conscious  independence  is  manifest.  The 


XVI  INTRODUCTORY   REMARKS. 

Haytians,  however,  have  more  than  ever  to  learn,  that  their 
independence  must  fail  in  true  dignity,  without  sound  moral 
principle  universally  diffused. 

We  have,  indeed,  pointed  out  the  Black  "Man  as  especially 
benefiting  by  independence  ;  this  has  been  done  in  the  sense 
of  a  general  principle,  and  is,  therefore,  as  applicable  to  him 
as  to  the  rest  of  the  human  family  ;  perhaps,  indeed,  there 
are  peculiarities  in  his  case,  as  relating  to  the  present  age, 
which  might  make  this  great  principle  specially  applicable  to 
him,  and  render  the  designs  of  Providence,  as  to  his  inde 
pendence,  yet  more  clear  and  striking. 

Already  the  Haytian  commerce,  as  resulting  from  inde 
pendence,  is  comparatively  great  ;  nor  should  it  be  lost  sight 
of,  that  the  public  revenues  are  created  by  the  same  orga 
nized  and  legalized  system  of  Patents,  Customs,  Licenses, 
etc.,  as  in  all  other  civilized  countries. 

It  is  an  interesting  and  important  fact,  that  Hayti  is  at 
this  moment,  and  for  a  long  time  past,  has  been  carrying  on  an 
extensive  and  increasing  commerce  with  the  United  States 
of  America,  which,  for  some  time  past,  has  been  said  to  be 
worth  three  millions  of  dollars  per  annum  ;  this  is  to  be  un 
derstood  as  relating  to  the  French  part  of  the  Island  only. 
Also,  with  England,  France,  and  Germany  much  is  doing 
commercially  ;  and  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  the  exten 
sive  correspondence,  and  constantly  calculating  intercourse 
with  foreign  nations,  can  be  without  its  general  and  power 
ful  results  upon  the  interests  and  civilization  of  this  nation, 
especially  when  it  is  remembered  that  Scriptural  education 
has,  during  the  last  quarter  of  a  century,  widely  sown  the 
seeds  of  truth,  while  at  the  same  time  thousands  of  Haytians, 
although  not  converted  to  God  by  a  new  birth  unto  righte 
ousness,  have  nevertheless  opened  their  eyes  to  see  that  true 
religion  is,  God  in  man,  and  that  alone  ;  and  as  far  as  con 
victions  are  concerned,  have  shaken  off  the  iron  yoke  of  error 
in  many  things,  as  incompatible  with  real  moral  progress, — 


INTRODUCTORY   REMARKS.  XV11 

that  all  these  powerful  elements  should  have  been  so  long  at 
work  without  effect,  is  not  to  be  supposed. 

Let  the  thinking  part  of  mankind  open  the  details  of  these 
facts,  and  it  will  most  certainly  be  seen  that  national  Inde 
pendence  is  the  road  to  dignity  ;  this,  it  is  true,  has  never 
been  doubted  of  the  White  Man,  nor  has  there  ever  been  any 
real  reason  to  doubt  it  in  the  case  of  the  Black  Republic  of 
Ilayti,  notwithstanding  much  error,  and  the  fact  that  she 
has  yet  much  to  learn. 

Time  was,  when  the  idea  of  the  formation  of  an  African 
Independency,  in  any  sense,  from  the  vast  Black  population 
of  the  United  States,  was  looked  upon  with  suspicion  and 
a  frown  ;  fear  was  felt  that  the  great  cause  of  Justice  before 
the  law  would  suffer,  by  weakening  the  ranks  of  those  who 
would  thus  be  left  to  struggles  for  rights  supremely  dear,  but 
the  arm  of  the  Almighty  has  now  been  revealed,  right  has 
triumphed  over  wrong,  and  an  Independency  under  present 
circumstances  would,  therefore,  be  simply  another  competitive 
power  in  the  earth,  bringing  out  and  completing  the  bound 
less  resources  of  human  beings  ;  showing  also,  that  the  sons 
of  Africa  are  not  sent  back  to  savage  life  by  Independence, 
as  both  Ilayti  and  Liberia  attest,  where  wealth  and  learning 
have  at  least  commenced  their  elevating  power,  and  will, 
doubtless,  by  the  aid  of  general  knowledge,  true  religion,  and 
commercial  intercourse,  raise  them  ultimately  to  rank  with 
the  most  civilized  and  prosperous  nations  of  the  age. 

Truly,  the  great  principles  of  Liberty  and  Independence, 
rightly  understood,  are  the  glory  of  our  times  ;  so  much  so, 
that,  Liberty  a  failure  !  has  now  become  too  absurd,  both  as 
an  expression,  and  even  as  a  thought,  for  use  ;  rather  it  is 
Despotism  and  Slavery  that  have  proved  to  be  utter,  and,  let 
us  hope,  eternal  failures  !  Men  are  now  beginning  to  see 
what  they  long  refused  to  see,  or  understand,  viz.,  that  uni 
versal  freedom  is  universal  wealth  ! 

But  the  burden  of  our  song  is  Independence  !     Xor  does 


xviii  INTRODUCTORY  REMARKS. 

the  admitted  fact  that  Hayti  ought  to,  and  might  have  done 
better,  in  any  way  diminish  either  its  glory  or  its  dignity. 
If  Hayti  has  at  all  risen  from  her  starting  point,  as  she  un 
questionably  has,  then  has  she  demonstrated  to  the  world,  that 
she  possesses  both  the  elements  and  capacity  for  Progress. 

The  fact  of  Law,  Mathematics,  Literature,  Commerce, 
etc.,  forming  fields,  where  intelligence  has  unquestionably 
shown  powers  which  do  honor  to  this  branch  of  the  human 
family,  demand  just  notice  ;  while  at  the  same  time,  Inde 
pendence  in  this  case,  having  placed  the  nation  in  official  in 
tercourse  with  the  leading  Governments  of  the  day,  has 
brought  out  state-documents  not  inferior  to  those  of  other 
nations,  as  will  appear  from  the  following  "  Historical 
Notes,"  while  the  Haytian  Bar,  with  the  Medical  Faculty, 
show  men  of  all  shades  worthy  of  their  professions. 

In  fact,  the  wealth  already  accumulated,  both  in  intelli 
gence  and  gold,  afford  ample  proof  that  Independence  in 
Hayti  is  not,  and  cannot  be  a  failure  ;  swarming  evils,  indeed, 
abound,  which  even  seem  to  threaten  every  good  ;  the  fact  of 
the  utter  corruption  of  human  nature  is  as  evident  with  Inde 
pendence  as  it  is  under  the  greatest  despotism,  hence  the 
great' stress  laid  on  the  necessity  of  moral  culture,  as  apply 
ing  to  every  individual  in  a  nation,  rich  and  poor,  high  and  low. 

Let  it  not,  however,  be  supposed  that  the  Independence 
advocated  in  these  pages,  in  reference  to  the  "  Black  Man," 
is  in  any  sense  exclusive  ;  it  is  rather  that  which  belongs  to 
man  as  a  social  being,  and  which  forms  the  glory  of  England, 
France,  and  America  ;  an  Independence  which,  while  it  ex 
tends  shelter  to  all,  retains  at  the  same  time  a  perfect  na 
tional  identity,  while  it  tells  upon  every  child  in  the  nation, 
stamps  its  character  upon  each  family,  is  seen  in  the  peasant's 
gait  as  he  strides  his  mountain  tops,  and  in  the  more  devel 
oped  townsman  is  visible  as  he  paces  his  own  streets. 

Unconscious,  bold,  instinctive  are  the  airs, 
Of  those  who  feel  as  if  the  earth  were  theirs  ! 


INTRODUCTORY   REMARKS.  XIX 

Hayti  and  Liberia  have,  indeed,  been  exclusive  in  their  In 
dependence  j  but  this,  it  must  be  admitted,  has  been  rather 
from  necessity  than  choice,  as  the  history  of  each  country 
will  show  ;  this  necessity,  however,  no  longer  exists  in  either 
case,  and  it  is  for  them  to  judge  whether  they  will  not,  by 
perpetuating  such  defiant  attitudes,  in  excluding  those  who 
now  freely  open  their  doors  to  them,  expose  themselves  to 
the  sarcasm  of  the  age  \—exdmiveism  cannot  belong  to  man 
as  a  family  ;  hence  all  walls  of  separation  between  mankind 
must  everywhere  speedily  fall  ;  the  utmost  intercourse,  or  le 
gitimate  amalgamation,  being  in  no  way  incompatible  with 
the  most  complete  national  Independence  and  identity. 

It  may  be  thought  by  some,  both  Black  and  White,  that 
the  tendency  of  the  present  work,  in  favoring  a  separation 
between  two  of  the  main  branches  of  the  human  race,  is  more 
lowering  than  otherwise  to  the  dignity  of  the  "  Black  Man," 
the  contrary,  however,  is  most  unquestionably  the  aim  of  the 
author  of  these  pages  ;  in  fact,  it  would  be  difficult  to  show 
that  Independence  is,  or  can  in  any  way  be,  degrading,  nor 
could  any  one  sincerely  entertain  such  a  thought  ;  most  cer 
tainly,  Haytian  Independence  does  not  mean,  or  even  sup 
pose,  separation,  in  any  isolating  sense  ;  hence  her  capitalists 
are  mainly  foreigners,  who  may  be  viewed  as  among  even 
the  greatest  supporters  of  the  national  Independence. 

If  we  enquire  into  the  origin  and  cause  of  the  various  di 
visions  which  have  taken  place  among  men  in  former  ages, 
we  shall  find  that  in  most  cases  they  have  been  nearly 
the  same  ;  hence,  the  case  of  Lot  and  Abram's  herdmen  is 
highly  illustrative  of  the  question  before  us  ; — circumstances 
which  men  call  accidental,  have  doubtless  mostly  originated 
their  needed  and  salutary  divisions  throughout  the  earth,  and 
we  are  probably  right  in  concluding  that  one  great  law  of 
Providence  is,  that  the  interests  of  the  earth  should  be  de 
veloped  and  worked  out,  upon  the  principle  of  national  Inde 
pendence  ;  nor  have  the  divisions  among  men,  in  this  sense, 


XX  INTRODUCTORY   REMARKS. 

ever  involved  the  idea  of  degradation  ;  they  have  rather  been 
upon  the  instinctive  supposition,  of  each  and  all  acting  inde 
pendently  for  themselves,  each  thus  exploring  for  himself,  and 
bringing  out  the  general  resources  and  wealth  of  nature. 

Still  the  question  might  fairly  be  urged,  has  not  a  man  a 
right  to  remain  in  the  land  of  his  birth  ?  To  which  question 
the  only  possible  reply  is  or  can  be,  that  he  has  !  But  if 
there  did  not,  with  this  great  truth,  exist  the  right  in  every 
individual  of  the  human  family  to  change  their  place  of  resi 
dence,  or  their  circumstances,  and,  if  possible,  better  them, 
either  by  emigration  or  any  other  fair  means,  it  would  be 
most  unhappy  for  the  world. 

On  this  principle,  the  island  of  Great  Britain,  had  long 
since  been  too  small  for  its  ever  increasing  population  ;  and, 
in  fact,  many  other  places  in  the  world  would,  long  ago,  have 
become  intolerable  from  density  of  population,  had  there  ex 
isted  no  right  to  change. 

The  undisputed  right,  therefore,  to  remain  in  one's  native 
land,  is  indeed  poor,  compared  with  the  right  to  be  unrestrict 
edly  at  large — at  full  liberty,  to  make  tlie  best  of  the  world, 
and,  so  to  speak,  lay  it  out  to  the  best  advantage  ! 

Hence  the  question  of  right,  even  to  abandon  one's 
birth-place,  needs  no  further  consideration.  This  not  even 
forming  any  part,  properly  speaking,  of  the  subject  now  before 
us,  the  right  of  all  men  and  all  communities  to  do  and  act  for 
the  best  for  themselves  and  their  children,  in  the  course  of 
public  events,  is  universally  recognized  ;  and  they  are  wise 
and  happy  who  know  how  thus  to  appreciate  true  freedom 
for  themselves  and  posterity.  This  is  that  true  Independence 
which  becomes  every  man  upon  earth. 

It  was  upon  this  sound  principle  of  independence  that  the 
immortal  founders  of  those  Colonies  which  ultimately  termi 
nated  in  the  formation  of  the  present  great  North  American 
Republic,  wrenched  themselves  and  their  families  from  their 
native  shores.  Notuithstanding  their  entire  rights  in  the 


INTRODUCTORY   REMARKS.  XXI 

beloved  land  of  their  birth,  they  simply,  from  motives  which 
appeared  to  them  sufficient,  preferred  the  bleak  and  cheerless 
wilds  of  the  New  World,  to  what  they  conceived  to  be  the 
despotism  of  their  native  land,  which  they  felt  destroyed 
the  happiness  of  their  homes  and  ancient  fire-sides  ;  hence 
they  literally  flung  themselves  upon  the  world,  and  even  wan 
dered  about  in  the  dens  and  caves  of  their  new-found  land, 
to  save  themselves  from  the  fury  of  untutored  man  ;  and  yet 
this  painful  exchange  was  even  sweet  to  them — of  oppression 
for  liberty  !  as  the  free  and  spontaneous  praises  of  Jehovah, 
which  rose  from  their  noble  hearts,  breaking  the  long  silence 
of  the  primeval  forests  now  before  them,  attested — although 
they  were  not  insensible  to  the  endearing  sweets  of  their 
ancient  homes  Avhich  they  had  left  behind.  Nor  is  it  to  be 
wondered  at,  that  the  grandeur  of  such  a  genuine  spirit  of 
independence  should  have  impressed  itself  upon  a  nation, 
which  may  now  be  said  to  be  one  of  the  glories  of  the  age. 

The  principle,  therefore,  here  advocated,  is  one  which  must 
and  does  command  the  attention  of  mankind.  There  may, 
and  indeed  will  be,  various  views  as  to  its  present  application 
to  the  "  black  man  "  of  the  United  States  ;  but  the  fact  that 
national  independence  is  the  highest  dignity  to  which  either 
he  or  any  other  branch  of  the  human  family  can  attain,  is 
not  to  be  controverted. 

Nor  ever  did  it  occur  to  any  of  the  descendants  of  the 
Pilgrim  Fathers,  that  their  great  progenitors  in  any  sense 
ignored  either  the  cause  of  freedom  or  their  friends,  by  thus 
departing  from  their  country,  and  leaving  behind  them  the 
great  struggle  for  liberty  in  which  they  had  so  long  been 
engaged  ;  or  that  they  in  any  sense  descended  from  their 
dignity,  in  leaving  the  land  of  their  birth,  for  the  carrying 
out  of  the  great  purposes  which  they  had  in  view.  Rather 
their  own  fathers  applauded  them,  as  they  wafted  from  their 
ancestral  shores,  and  voluntarily  gave  up  all  right  to  their 
own  birth-place  ;  while  they  themselves  were  cheered  with  the 


XX11  INTRODUCTORY   EEMAKKS. 

hope  of  establishing  their  own  just  principles  of  religious 
liberty  on  those  far-off  shores,  towards  which  they  had  now 
set  their  faces.  And  great  have  been  the  results  of  their 
bold  and  daring  energy — results  which  have  amply  demon 
strated  the  soundness  of  their  principles,  thus  annihilating  all 
doubt  as  to  the  carrying  them  out  in  modern  days,  by  the 
simple  force  of  preference  and  principle,  for  whatever  rea 
son  might  be  deemed  sufficient. 

It  is  not  meant  here  to  insinuate  in  the  remotest  manner, 
that  either  the  ruling  power  or  people  of  the  United  States 
intend  in  any  sense  the  oppression  of  the  "  black  man." 
Nothing  can  be  more  evident,  than  that  at  the  present  moment 
honesty  and  justice  are  in  the  ascendency  in  the  great  Amer 
ican  Republic,  on  the  African  question  ;  nor  is  it  to  be  sup 
posed  that  the  rivers  of  blood  which  have  been  poured  out 
as  the  purchase-price  of  justice,  laid  down  before  God  and 
man,  in  awful  conflict,  will  be  in  vain.  But  the  fact  is  before 
the  world,  that  the  slavery  and  degrading  bondage  of  past 
ages,  so  fertile  in  every  conceivable  evil,  and  so  ruinous  to 
all  ranks  and  conditions  of  men,  giving  even  to  liberty  itself 
a  sickly  hue,  and  perverting  noblest  minds,  have  left  behind 
them  false  views  and  unhappy  effects,  from  which  independ 
ence  would  prove  a  shelter.  Such  were  the  noble  Lincoln's 
views.  Such,  too,  were  those  of  Toussaint  L?0uverture  ;  and 
if  all  Africa  could  speak  on  such  a  subject,  it  would  be  with 
no  uncertain  words.  Nor  will  it  be  surprising  that  the 
thought  of  a  black  independence,  rising  out  of  the  great 
numbers  of  the  sons  of  Africa  in  the  United  States,  should 
have  found  birth  in  a  Haytian  element,  or  that  it  should 
appear  here,  although  only  in  the  form  of  a  question. 

Astonishing  as  it  may  seem,  it  is  a  fact  that  political  strife 
in  Hayti  has  sometimes  laid  hold  of  the  question  of  color, 
between  the  blacks  and  those  of  mixed  blood,  for  the  accom 
plishment  of  base  purposes  ;  nevertheless,  the  man  who  would 
presume  to  think  more  of  his  lighter  hue,  and  in  any  sense 


INTKODUCTOKY   EEMAKKS.  XX111 

act  upon  it,  would,  in  the  land  of  Toussaint,  find  himself 
greatly  mistaken,  and  would  soon  feel  himself  under  the  neces 
sity  of  concealing  his  empty  vanity,  in  the  presence  probably 
of  his  darker  superior,  whose  education  might  possibly  have 
left  him  in  the  shade.  In  fact,  it  is  seen  in  Hayti  that  a 
complete  education  is  a  withering  power  to  the  vague  hate 
of  color. 

But  men  in  all  ages  have  been  guilty  of  absurdities  ; 
hence  the  justly  celebrated  Macaulay  informs  us,  that  in  an 
age  not  very  remote  from  our  own,  the  Irishman  was  looked 
down  upon  with  absolute  contempt,  by  his  lordly  and  con 
ceited  English  brother  ;  nor  does  the  great  historian  fail  to 
make  this  singularly  plain.  And  such,  too,  has  been  the 
course  pursued  in  all  ages  ;  shades  and  straws  have  been  the 
causes  of  rivers  of  blood,  and  peace  has  often  come  about 
only  from  sheer  exhaustion. 

Nor  would  it  be  difficult  to  understand  that  thousands  of; 
recently  freed  men,  from  similar  circumstances,  might  gladly 
avail  themselves  of  an  open  door  of  deliverance  from  elements 
which  are  in  contact  with  God  himself,  and  cannot  but  be 
productive  of  anguish.  It  might,  indeed,  be  said,  Live  them 
down  !  But  there  are  various  ways  of  doing  this  ;  nor  can 
there  be  any  doubt  of  the  effectual  power  of  a  Christian  and 
well-ordered  independence  in  such  a  case.  We,  however,  are 
here  reminded  that  the  social  question  is  not  settled  as  a 
mere  matter  of  right.  The  "black  man"  must  command, 
intellectually  and  morally.  His  well-formed  soul  must  be  the 
power.  This  must  be  his  demonstration  that  "  all  men  are 
equal  !"  This,  too,  is  the  great  truth  which  would  justify 
a  constantly  open  door  to  a  well  understood  independence, 
for  all  who  might  wish,  from  any  consideration,  to  change 
either  their  place  of  residence  or  national  style  of  life,  where 
the  "  black  man"  might  rise  in  independent  freedom. 

Hayti  and  Liberia — whatever  their  past  history  may  have 
been — are  now  free  and  independent  nations,  and  are  both 


XXIV  INTRODUCTORY   REMARKS. 

advancing*  in  all  the  interests  and  prosperity  of  the  age. 
They  are  giving  proof  of  the  soundness  of  the  great  princi 
ple  which  it  is  the  aim  of  this  volume  to  illustrate,  and  which 
constitutes  the  glory  of  their  national  existence. 

An  exodus  in  any  sense  is  not  here  meant.  All  that  is 
thought  of  in  the  present  reasonings,  should  be  the  result  of 
unconstrained  choice,  whether  for  or  against.  "  Let  each 
one  be  fully  persuaded  in  his  own  mind."  All  motives  being 
entirely  Christian,  all  will  be  safe. 

The  black  man,  or  any  other,  who  might  wish  an  element 
of  yet  greater  freedom  in  any  respect  than  that  which  he 
now  realizes,  is  only  the  renewed  case  of  thousands  of  every 
past  age.  Like  his  predecessors  of  all  the  past,  he  withdraws 
to  wherever  he  pleases,  and  from  whatever  motive  he  pleases. 
He  does  not  ask  about  his  right  to  remain  here  or  to  go 
there.  Tie,  as  a  Christian,  follows  his  moral  instincts,  and 
what  may  seem  to  him  the  leadings  of  Providence. 

Let  even  millions  move.  Nothing  need  be  feared  from 
the  utmost  liberty  of  action,  while  the  honor  of  man  of  every 
shade  is  the  sole  motive  and  aim. 

It  will  be  easily  understood  that  the  ground-work  and 
elevation  from  whence  all  these  views  are  taken,  is  Hayti ; 
nor  can  anything  be  more  certain  than  that  the  reasonings 
here  adopted,  as  well  as  the  feelings  here  expressed,  are  very 
decidedly  those  of  the  enlightened  and  educated  portion  of 
the  Haytian  people  ;  while  it  cannot  be  denied,  whatever  be 
the  national  defects  of  Hayti,  that  the  present  educated 
classes  of  this  country  are  sufficiently  numerous  and  power 
ful,  fully  to  establish  and  demonstrate  the  great  question 
before  us,  that  independence  is  its  true  dignity. 

That  there  ever  should  have  been  an  entirely  uneducated 
class  in  Hayti,  is  to  be  deplored  ;  but  this  evil  is  now  recog 
nized,  and  its  sole  cure  is  now  well  understood.  The  Christian 
Churches,  therefore,  that  have  ears  to  hear,  "  let  them  hear  !" 

With  regard  to  the  great  mission  of  Hayti,  as  given  it  by 


INTRODUCTORY    REMARKS.  XXV 

God,  in  a  Christian,  national  sense,  and  in  the  order  of 
Providence,  which  we  may  presume  was  to  prove  that  man 
of  every  hue  is  man,  many  Christian  men,  to  whom  great 
deference  is  in  every  respect  due,  have  seemed  to  hesitate  as 
to  the  success  realized  in  this  respect.  Whether  this  hesita 
tion  has  been  well  founded,  or  whether  there  has  been  in  all 
such  cases  a  sufficient  knowledge  of  Hayti,  to  warrant  the 
conclusions  arrived  at,  remains  to  be  considered.  Much,  in 
such  cases,  would  depend  upon  the  amount  of  expectation 
which  may  have  been  entertained.  If  the  class  of  persons 
referred  to  have  expected  of  Hayti  a  model  Republic,  in 
which  all  the  details  of  free  institutions  and  free  government 
should  be  entirely  developed,  then  there  might  well  be  hesi 
tation.  The  question,  however,  is,  whether  such  an  expecta 
tion  was  fair  and  reasonable.  Can  we  fairly  overlook  the 
inevitable  distance  which  there  must,  in  the  nature  of  things, 
be  between  national  infancy  and  national  maturity  ?  This 
overlooked,  disappointment  would  become  certain. 

Let,  then,  the  law  of  nature  and  plain  truth  be  here  car 
ried  out,  and  all  difficulty  in  the  case  will  cease  ;  by  this  law 
it  will  be  at  once  evident  that  we  only  reap  that  which  we 
sow  ;  and  without  any  reasoning,  we  understand  that  that 
which  was  never  sown  at  all,  can  never  appear. 

The  question,  therefore,  which  naturally  arises  in  this  case, 
is — What  has  been  sown  in  Hayti,  morally,  politically,  or 
otherwise  ?  This  question  demands  fair  and  serious  attention  ; 
for  if  the  evil  seeds  of  false  and  pernicious  principles,  reli 
giously,  intellectually,  and  politically,  have  been  sown  broad 
cast,  all  further  hesitation  must  evidently  cease. 

Nevertheless,  the  mission  of  the  Haytian  nation  was,  it 
may  be  presumed,  to  develop  and  establish  the  character  of 
the  black  man.  This  may  not  have  been  done  as  probably 
many  expected  it  to  be  ;  but  it  is  certain  that  the  great  law 
of  God  and  nature,  as  we  have  just  referred  to  it,  has  been 
carried  out  and  fulfilled. 


XXVI  INTRODUCTORY   REMAKES. 

An  Anglo-Saxon  ancestry  might  have  placed  everything 
on  a  different  track  in  Haytr  ;  yet  it  would  not  be  difficult 
to  show  that  the  land  of  Toussaint  has  not  been  the  least 
amongst  its  sister  Republics  in  the  new  world,  whose  origin 
has  been  more  or  less  similar. 

Hayti  has  already  demonstrated  the  fallacy  of  much  that 
was  once  said  of  the  African,  and  to  our  great  astonishment,  is 
still  persisted  in  by  a  deservedly  distinguished  traveler  of 
our  own  day,  who  has  perhaps  immortalized  his  name  by  his 
African  discoveries  ;  but  whose  views  as  to  the  African  as  a 
man,  do  not  appear  to  harmonize  with  those  of  the  great 
Livingstone. 

To  one  who  has  resided  long  in  Hayti,  it  is  somewhat 
amusing  to  hear  that  the  Negro,  after  a  certain  age,  is  worth 
little  in  literature  or  mental  power.  It  would  be  a  curious 
enquiry  to  examine  on  what  ground  this  is  said — how  and 
why  is  this  vitality  lost  ?  and  is  it  in  harmony  with  the  expe 
rience  of  five  and  twenty  years  educational  labor  in  Hayti  ? 
Men  that  have  had  romance  enough  in  them  to  face  black 
savages,  and  sometimes  tremble  for  their  lives  among 
them,  are  not  always  the  best  judges  of  the  mental  powers 
of  such  branches  of  the  human  race. 

The  blacks  of  Hayti,  who  have  received  a  good  education 
either  in  France  or  in  their  own  country,  know  how  to 
prize  it.  Those  who  think  differently  might  make  many  a 
test  in  that  country,  where  some  well  educated  blacks  might 
be  found  who,  mentally,  are  yet  youthful  at  sixty  ! 

In  fact,  such  reasoning  is  simply  the  abandonment  of  truth  ; 
and  in  the  case  of  the  great  traveler  just  referred  to,  goes 
to  show  that  it  is  possible  for  even  great  men,  of  a  certain 
mental  style,  to  travel  amongst  the  savages  of  Africa  until 
they  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  they  were,  in  their  origin, 
"  pre-Adamic  !"  or  as  impious  mortals  might  suppose,  a  pre 
liminary  essay  of  creative  power,  intended  to  produce  a  man 
of  inferior  order.  Can  this  be  seriously  meant  ?  Rather  is 


INTRODUCTORY   REMARKS.  XXVI 1 

it  not  an  empty  freak  of  an  irreverent  imagination  ?  It  is  not, 
however,  uncommon  for  the  reasonings  of  able  men  to  lead 
to  erroneous  conclusions. 

The  conclusions  of  the  traveler  in  question,  as  to  African 
incapacity,  were  doubtless  those  also  of  Julius  Caesar  and  his 
attendants,  as  to  the  ancient  Britons,  when  they  first  landed 
on  their  shores.  Whether,  therefore,  the  final  decision  of 
the  class  of  men  now  referred  to,  that  all  attempts  to  raise 
such  branches  of  the  human  race  is  useless,  either  by  Chris 
tian  missions  or  otherwise,  is  well  founded,  may  be  very  safely 
left  to  the  results  of  experience.  The  facts  on  this  subject, 
both  in  Hayti  and  elsewhere,  are  indeed  stubborn,  nor  do 
they  leave  any  doubt  on  which  side  the  real  visionary  is 
found  on  this  question. 

Most  unhappy  would  it  be  for  uncivilized  humanity  to  be 
left  to  the  tender  mercies  of  those  who  are  quite  undecided 
as  to  whether  human  beings,  under  certain  circumstances,  are 
men  at  all. 

Hayti  has  at  least  demonstrated  the  existence  of  sound 
mental  material  in  the  African  ;  and  although  this  is  a  great 
and  triumphant  step,  it  must  nevertheless  be  admitted  that 
she  might  and  ought  to  have  done  better  still. 


CONTENTS. 


Page 
OFFICIAL  REPORT  OP  THE  HAYTIAN  GOVERNMENT  COMMISSION 3 

PREFACE 5 

INTRODUCTORY  REMARKS 11 

CHAPTER   I. 

Discovery  of  Hayti. — Native  Indians. — Gold  discovered. — Indian  and 
Negro  Slavery.  -Arrival  of  the  French  —Case  of  Oge.— First  French 
Expedition.  — "La  Crete  a  Pierrot."  — Exports.— Vandouism.— 
French  Revolution,  Spirit  of,  in  Hayti.— Toussaint  faithful  to  the 
French. — Toussaint  declines  being  King. — He  Rules  the  whole 
Island. — He  is  captured  by  the  French 31 

CHAPTER    II. 

French  Cruelty  to  Haytians. — Dessalines  proclaims  Independence. — 
Eight  hundred  Whites  fall  at  St.  Marks.— Ferrand's  Proclamation.— 
Dessalines  marches  on  Santo  Domingo. — Viet  flogged  to  death. — 
Dessalines  retreats. — He  is  shot. — '•  L'Assemblee  Constituante." — 
Christophe  marches  on  Port  au  Prince. — The  Republicans  routed. — 
Christophe  retreats. — His  Laws  on  Marriage,  etc. — The  two  States 
compared. — Gen.  Borgella  joins  the  Republic Chvistophe  pro 
claimed  King 58 

CHAPTER    III. 

Distribution  of  Lands. — Petion  a  Dictator. — Republicanism  the  choice 
of  the  Educated. — Ardouin  on  the  Distribution  of  Lands. — Christophe 
attacks  the  Republic. — Desertion  to  the  Republic. — He  builds 
Laferriere.— His  Palace.— Candler's  Description  of  it.— Case  of 


XXX  CONTENTS. 

Page 

Medina. — Ohristophe's  Schools. — He  is  smitten  with  Apoplexy. — 
Fails  in  mounting  his  horne. — Commits  Suicide. — Indemnity  to 
France. — Presidency  for  Life. — House  of  Representatives. — Esmon- 
gart  to  Christophe. — Petion  offers  Indenmit}7 93 

CHAPTER    IV. 

First  Wesleyan  Missionaries  — Pressoir  Persecution. — New  Repre 
sentative  Body. — Mackenzie  on  the  Courts,  etc. — Amount  of  Exports 
in  1818.— Petion's  Funeral.— Boyer  President.— Great  Public  Fire.— 
Boyer  takes  the  North.— He  takes  the  Eastern  part.— The  Age 
blameable,  not  HaytL— The  Newspapers  published. 121 

CHAPTER  V. 

The  Indemnity. — Arrangements  with  France. — First  American  Immi 
gration. — Camp  Meetings. — Boyer's  good  negative. — Code  Rural. — 
Blowing  up  of  the  Arsenal  in  1826  — Question  of  Population. — All 
started  from  Europeans 149 

CHAPTER    VI. 

The  Executive  Sovereign  an  error Periodical  Presidency  consid 
ered. — Source  of  Revolutions.  —  Cayea  Revolutionary.  —  Herard 
Dumesle  and  St.  Preux. — The  House  expels  them. — Rev.  J.  Tindal 
arrives.— His  health  fails.— Revs.  W.  T.  Cardy  and  W.  Touler 
arrive. — Offer  to  make  the  Yaqui  navigable. — J.  Candler. — Boyer 
altogether  French. — Freemasonry  in  Hayti. — Candler  on  the  Military 
System 167 

CHAPTER    VII. 

Arrival  of  M.  B.  Bird  at  the  Cape — Arrival  of  J.  T.  Hartwell  at  Port 
an  Prince. — J.  Candler  and  the  Priest. — Different  classes  of 
Funerals. — A  National  University  desirable. — The  Earthquake  of 
1842.— Opening  of  the  Wesleyan  Church  at  Port  au  Prince , .  192 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

Herard  Riviere  revolts. — The  Government  without  the  means  of 
transport. — Boyer  sends  forces. — They  fraternize. — The  alarm 


CONTENTS.  XXXI 

Page 

gun. — Boyer  abdicates. — Riviere  enters  the  Capita!. — Ten  thousand 
troops  in  Port  au  Prince. — The  new  Government  inaugurated. — 
"  L'Assemblee  Constituante." — Bad  elements  creeping  in. — The 
government  Provisoire  deserving. — M.  B.  Bird's  journey  to  the 
South — He  preaches  in  a  Catholic  Church 222 

CHAPTER   IX. 

Remarks  on  the  Journey. — Provisional  Government  attempts  the  * 
Education  of  the  Masses. — Gurrier  proclaimed  President.— Postal 
Arrangements. — Death  of  Guerrier. — Pierrot  President. — He  enters 
Port  au  Prince. — Baptist  Mission  founded  at  Jacmel. — Riche  pro 
claimed  President.— Wesleyan  School  opened  at  Port  au  Prince     .  253 

CHAPTER    X. 

Riche"  arrives  at  Cayes. — His  Proclamation.— His  Death. — Soulouqne 
President. — He  leaves  for  the  Spanish  part. — J.  T.  Hartwell  builds 
at  the  Cape. — Faustian  the  I  — M.  B.  Bird's  memento  to  the  Govern 
ment. — Jere"mie  Wesleyan  Church  finished  by  C.  H.  Bishop. — 
Opened  by  M.  B.  Bird. — Final  Coronation. — Cannibalism. — Midnight 

Imperial  entry  to  Port  au  Prince.— Dr.  Smith's  Pamphlet (280 

V^, ** 

CHAPTER    XI. 

The  family  is  the  nation.— Boys  and  Cigars.— Woman  in  Hayti.— The 
Freedmen  of  the  States.— Wooden  cross  not  Christ.— Haytian  Cos 
tume. — Haytian  table. — Haytian  furniture. — A  native  Artist. — Music 
in  Hayti — Funerals,  Baptisms,  Marriages. — Masonic  Funerals  — 
Sitting  at  doors.— Public  roads.— Mothers  absorbed  in  Commerce.— 
Divorce 317 

CHAPTER    XII. 

Soulouque  falls  —  Geffrard  slips  into  Port  au  Prince — Hayti  Repre 
sentative. — The  masses  as  they  ever  were. — Cannibals  executed. — 
Steamers  now  familiar  to  Port  au  Prince. — Water  works  com 
menced.— Blowing  up  of  the  Arsenal.— Introduction  of  Gas.— 


XXX11  CONTENTS. 

Page 

Improvements  in  Music. — Prisons. — Penitentiary. — Religious  Lib 
erty —  Concordat.  —  Protestant  Statistics  —  Methodist  Financial 
Committee  .  353 

CHAPTER    XIII. 

The  Immigration. — Its  failure. — Assassination  of  the  President's 
daughter. — Intended  public  meeting  on  the  death  of  Lincoln. — 
Quarrel  between  the  English  and  Salnave.— Geffrard's  last  Mes 
sage. — Geffrard  embarks  for  Jamaica. — New  Government 387 

CHAPTER   XIV. 
The  cause  and  cure  of  Haytian  Revolutions 412 

CHAPTER    XV. 

African  Character  as  developed  in  Hayti 437 


HAYTIAN  INDEPENDENCE. 


CHAPTER   I. 

Discovery  of  Hay ti.— Native  Indians.— First  rupture  with  the 
Spaniards.— Gold  discovered. — Indian  and  Negro  Slavery. — 
Arrival  of  the  French. — The  American  Colonies  rise. — Case  of 
Ogt.— First  French  Expedition. — "La  Crete  £  Pierrot." — 
Exports. — Religion  in  the  Colony. — Vandouism. — French  Revo 
lution,  Spirit  of,  in  Hayti.— Liberty  proclaimed  in  France. — 
Toussaint  faithful  to  the  French. — Toussaint  declines  being 
King.— He  Rules  the  whole  Island. — His  rule  severe.— He  is 
captured  by  the  French. 

The  great  Columbus,  star  of  modern  days, 
Went  westerly,  and  glowing,  stood,  over 
A  new  found  world  ! 

HAYTI  was  discovered  by  Christopher  Columbus, 
on  the  6th  of  December,  1492. 

The  name  of  the  island  is  said  to  have  meant,  in 
the  native  Indian  language  —  among  many  other 
things — "  High,  Mountainous  Land,"  but  Columbus, 
on  discovering  it,  thought  it  greatly  resembled  Spain, 
and  therefore  gave  it  the  name  of  "  Hispaniola,"  or 
little  Spain :  subsequently,  St.  Domingo,  or  St. 
Domingue,  was  for  many  years  the  name  by  which  it 
was  generally  known  in  Europe ;  since,  however,  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  by  the  Haytians  in 
1804,  the  ancient  aboriginal  name  has  been  revived 
and  adopted.  This  large  and  important  island  is 


32 

now,  therefore,  generally  known  by  the  name  of 
Ilayti. 

The  entire  island  is  upwards  of  four  hundred  miles 
in  length,  from  east  to  west,  and  about  one  hundred 
and  eighty  miles  in  breadth.  It  is  situated  between 
17  and  18  degrees  north  latitude,  and  between 
71  and  79  west  longitude  from  Paris.  Its  situation 
with  regard  to  the  adjacent  Antilles,  is  peculiarly 
central,  having  Cuba  twenty-two  leagues  to  the 
northwest,  Jamaica  forty-five  leagues  to  the  south 
west,  and  Puerto  Rico  about  twenty  leagues  to  the 
east-southeast. 

The  native  Indian  population,  at  the  time  of  the 
discovery  of  the  island,  has  been  variously  estimated 
at  from  one  to  three  millions.  The  aboriginal  tribes 
have  generally  been  represented  as  a  mild  and  hos 
pitable  race,  and  were  governed  by  chiefs,  bearing 
the  title  of  Caciques. 

The  whole  island  appears  to  have  been  divided 
into  five  different  States,  each  one  being  ruled  by  a 
Cacique. 

"With  regard  to  the  primary  origin  of  these  ancient 
races,  but  little  or  nothing  can  be  said  with  certainty. 
It  is,  however,  evident,  that  on  their  discovery  by 
Columbus,  they  were  not  what  might  be  termed 
savages,  but  were  rather  a  mild  and  interesting 
people,  possessing  a  certain  type  of  civilization  ;  and 
although  greatly  astonished  at  the  sight  of  their 
new  visitors,  they  were  quite  disposed  to  receive 
them  well.  We  can,  however,  here  only  refer  to 
history  for  the  full  details  of  all  the  facts  and  circum 
stances  connected  with  the  discovery  of  this  island. 

It  would  appear  that  the  first  rupture  between  the 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  33 

Indians  and  the  Spaniards  took  place  in  1493,  at  the 
garrison  left  by  Columbus  some  few  leagues  from 
Cape  Haytien,  on  his  first  departure  for  Spain. 

History  informs  us  that  the  Spaniards,  having  ill- 
treated  the  Indians,  were  fallen  upon  by  them,  and 
utterly  exterminated.  This  unhappy  event  led  to  all 
the  rest  of  bloodshed  and  murder  which  afterwards 
took  place  between  the  Spaniards  and  aboriginal 
habitants  of  Hayti,*  thus  showing  how  utterly  vague 
is  all  merely  nominal  Christianity,  either  in  the  form 
of  national  creeds  or  otherwise. 

Various  indications  of  gold  having  presented  them 
selves,  the  love  of  that  idol  was  soon  vehemently 
developed,  and  the  unhappy  Indians  were  ere  long 
dragged  forth  from  the  quiet  of  ages  past,  and  as 
slaves,  to  which  state  they  were  soon  reduced,  were 
compelled  to  hunt  the  worshiped  metal,  either  in 
the  streams  or  mines.  But  the  Indians  of  the 
tropics  soon  sunk  beneath  this  weight  of  woe,  and 
even  speedily  disappeared,  to  the  perpetual  dishonor 
of  their  rapacious,  although  nominally  Christian 
masters. 

The  use  of  the  blood-hound,  it  would  seem,  contri 
buted  much  towards  the  bringing  about  of  this  fear 
ful  result ;  hence  we  are  informed,  that  even  Colum 
bus,  on  the  5th  of  April,  1494,  when  the  natives  of 
Jamaica  opposed  his  landing  there,  let  loose  a  blood 
hound  upon  them.  Justin  Martyr,  also,  a  well  known 
name  of  those  days,  observes  :  "  Our  people  availed 
themselves  of  the  blood-hound,  in  their  struggles  with 
natives."  f 

Such  were  the  perverted  views  of  Christianity  in 

*  T.  Madiera.          f  Schelcher  oil  Hayti. 


34:  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

that  age ;  and  yet  it  must  be  admitted,  that  there 
were  good  Christian  men  among  the  Spanish  clergy 
of  that  time,  who  had  found  their  way  to  the  new 
world,  and  who  also  were  faithful  in  their  remon 
strances  against  the  wanton  cruelties  then  practiced. 
I  The  great  scarcity  of  hands  for  the  working  of  the 
gold  mines  which  had  been  discovered,  and  other 
exhausting  toils,  which  were  quickly  imposed  upon 
the  Indians,  soon  originated  the  idea  of  seeking  help 
elsewhere  ;  hence,  Africa  was  thought  of,  from  whence 
the  white  man  delayed  not  to  drag  by  thousands  the 
unhappy  Africans  from  their  ancient  shores ;  and 
having  shackled  both  soul  and  body,  promptly  set 
his  more  hardy  limbs  to  work,  thus  soon  lashing  from 
him  unbounded  wealth.  But  the  horrors  of  both 
Indian  and  Negro  slavery  have  now  long  been  before 
the  world,  and  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  recapitulate 
them  here,  except  as  incidental  circumstances,  in  the 
course  of  narration,  may  render  necessary  ;  suffice  it 
to  say,  for  the  present,  that  the  wealth  and  splendor 
of  St.  Domingo,  as  the  result  of  French  slavery  in 
after  days,  were  beyond  compare,  as  to  anything  the 
West  Indies  had  ever  previously  known  ;  but  injus 
tice  of  every  kind  ever  carries  with  it  the  elements 
of  self-destruction. 

The  arrival  of  the  French  in  Hayti  was  gradual, 
and  according  to  the  united  testimony  of  history, 
commenced  with  a  few  adventurers,  who  settled 
themselves  on  a  small  island,*  about  opposite  the 
town,  now  called  Port  de  Paix.  They  were  a  class 
of  men  called  fillibusters,  or  buccaneers.  Their  num 
bers  gradually  increasing,  they  soon  came  into  con- 

*  Latortue. 


FROM   HISTOKICAL   NOTES.  35 

tact  with  the  Spaniards,  who  now  had  long  been 
masters  of  the  whole  island.  Conflicts,  fearful  and 
destructive,  were  the  result.  There  is,  however, 
reason  to  believe,  that  the  French  government  sent 
out  in  the  end  men  capable  of  protecting  their  sub 
jects  ;  hence  contests  for  territory  soon  came  on, 
which  at  last  ended  in  taking  possession  of  a  portion 
of  the  main  land,  and  the  ultimate  establishment  of 
the  little  town  of  Port  de  Paix,  already  alluded  to. 
This  point  once  gained,  it  will  be  easily  understood 
that  encroachments  went  on,  until  in  the  end,  limits 
were  formally  agreed  upon  between  the  Spanish  and 
the  French  governments,  and  the  island  thus  became 
divided  into  two  colonies,  the  French  part  bearing 
the  name  of  St.  Domingue,  understood  in  English  as 
St,  Domingo,  which  at  that  time  was  less  than  a  third 
of  the  whole  island. 

The  elements  and  resources  of  every  kind  of  wealth 
being  found  on  these  fertile  shores,  the  active  spirit 
of  the  French  soon  turned  all  to  good  account,  and 
the  result  of  their  industrial  powers  became  a  subject 
of  both  wonder  and  admiration,  although  to  the 
philanthropist,  the  whole  of  the  West  Indies  and  all 
the  nations  interested  in  them,  had  tarnished  their 
honor  by  the  use  of  slavery. 

Horned  cattle  had  now  long  been  introduced  into 
Ilayti  by  the  Spaniards,  and  were,  when  the 
French  commenced  their  career  in  the  island,  quite 
abundant. 

The  Spaniards  had  already  commenced  the  impor 
tation  of  Africans.  Slavery  had  begun  its  horrid 
course,  and  the  French,  like  their  predecessors  in 
this  foul  scheme,  from  equal  thirst  of  wealth,  drove 


36 

on  the  fearful  system  with  dreadful  energy,  so  that 
from  about  1650,  which  was  soon  after  the  com 
mencement  of  African  slavery  in  Hayti,  till  about 
1737,  the  entire  population  of  the  French  part  of  the 
island,  including  all  classes  and  colors,  amounted  to 
600,000 ;  and  this,  too,  in  an  age  when  the  means  of 
traveling  and  general  transport  were  very  far  from 
the  facilities  of  the  present  day.  Such,  too,  had  been 
already  the  development  of  the  unbounded  resources 
of  this  fertile  land,  that  it  soon  acquired  the  distin 
guished  title  of  "  Le  Paradis  des  Franqais !" — so 
great  was  the  wealth  that  had  been  wrenched  from 
the  now  annihilated  Indian,  and  from  the  still  lashed 
and  groaning  African. 

But  slavery  had  by  this  time  become  a  thoroughly 
consolidated  system.  The  Spanish,  English,  French, 
and  other  nations,  had  forced  its  galling  yoke  upon 
the  whole  of  the  West  India  islands. 

In  the  French  part  of  the  island,  the  increased 
activity  arising  from  an  intense  eagerness  for  wealth, 
brought  on  all  the  cruelties  peculiar  to  slavery,  and 
this  passion  became  more  and  more  intense :  the 
exhaustless  resources  of  the  country  were  brought 
out,  until  in  the  end,  riches  and  luxury  assumed  a 
scale  of  even  grandeur,  as  may  be  seen  at  the  present 
day  in  the  northern  part  of  the  present  Haytian 
Republic,  by  such  remains  of  ancient  seats  as  plainly 
indicate  the  style  of  former  days,  when  the  positions 
of  both  high  and  low  were  almost  fabulous  in  their 
extremes  of  misery  and  ease. 

It  is  true  that  the  French  colonists  frequently 
resided  on  their  foreign  properties,  and  their  homes 
and  general  establishments,  therefore,  corresponded 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  37 

with  their  wealth  and  rank — a  habit  exceedingly 
advantageous  to  the  colony,  making  it  as  it  did 
superior  in  production  to  the  British  colonies,  where 
absenteeism,  as  to  land-holders,  was  the  general  rule. 

French  and  other  writers  unite  to  give  a  glowing 
picture  of  St.  Domingo,  of  which  the  details  would 
doubtless  be  interesting  here;  it  will,  however,  for 
the  present,  be  impossible  for  us  to  enter  into  any 
of  the  particulars  of  the  internal  management  of  this 
splendid  colony,  under  the  French  ;  suffice  it  to  say, 
that  as  to  slavery,  it  was  carried  out  in  all  its  fearful 
and  revolting  details,  while  at  the  same  time,  the 
most  rigid  order  was  maintained  throughout  the 
entire  system  of  things,  civil,  military,  and  religious, 
as  it  then  existed.  But  amidst  all  this  luxurious  ease, 
so  much  sought  and  adored  in  the  relaxing  heat  of 
the  tropics,  the  instinctive  throes  of  oppressed 
humanity  would  sometimes  shake  the  foundations  of 
society,  a  fact  which  ought  to  remind  all  posterity 
that  truth  and  justice  alone  can  render  our  homes 
safe,  or  make  the  future  bright. 

During  the  eighteenth  century,  the  seeds  of  fearful 
principles  had  not  only  taken  root,  but  had  risen  up 
and  borne  their  awful  fruit.  France  broke  her  ancient 
chains,  but  in  her  fury,  she  confounded  all  order,  and 
for  a  moment  let  loose  upon  herself  overwhelming 
ruin. 

The  North  American  Colonies,  under  British  rule, 
also  rose,  and  asserted  their  solemn  resolution  to  be 
free,  and  constitute  themselves  an  independent 
people.  The  convulsions  necessarily  associated  with 
these  gigantic  efforts  amongst  mankind,  are  always 
great ;  nor  was  it  possible  that  such  bold  and  mighty 


38  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

struggles  for  liberty,  of  every  kind,  should  have  been 
without  eifect,  on  such  a  population  as  that  which 
was  now  found  in  St.  Domingue>  especially  when  it 
is  remembered  that  the  materials  which  made  up  the 
general  state  of  society  at  that  time,  were  peculiarly 
liable  to  ignite  and  explode,  as  will  be  easily  under 
stood  when  it  is  remembered,  that  in  so  many  cases, 
the  sons  of  the  white  colonists  had  been  sent  to 
France  by  their  fathers,  for  their  education,  where 
they  had  acquired  not  only  the  general  elements  of 
literature,  but  where  they  had  imbibed  the  political 
life  and  spirit  of  the  times,  from  which  such  fearful 
and  overwhelming  storms  broke  forth. 

The  simple  but  important  fact  of  an  European 
education  having  been  given  to  many  of  the  sons  of 
the  French  colonists,  should  by  no  means  be  lost 
sight  of  in  the  history  of  this  country,  for  it  may  be 
truly  regarded  as  a  hinge,  on  which  so  much  that  is 
interesting  and  important  turned,  in  the  general 
course  of  events  which  followed ;  it  wr.as,  in  fact,  the 
root  and  spring  of  Haytian  manhood  as  a  nation. 

It  was  in  France  itself,  therefore,  let  it  be  remem 
bered,  that  the  colored  sons  of  Hayti  learnt  to  know 
what  they  were  ;  there  it  was  that  they  were  taught, 
at  the  expense  of  their  own  white  fathers,  residing  in 
their  native  land,  that  they  were  men,  and  that 
righteous  heaven  had  made  them  heirs  of  liberty, 
without  reference  to  color  or  any  other  condition  ; 
and  yet,  on  the  return  of  these  well-prepared  sons  for 
liberty,  their  own  fathers  refused  them  those  common 
rights  of  men,  for  which  they  themselves  had  fitted 
them,  and  even  despised  their  darker  hue. 

That  flames  of  discord  should  burst  forth  from  such 


FRQM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  39 

conflicting  elements,  cannot  be  at  all  surprising  to 
any  who  have  read  human  history,  or  studied  human 
nature. 

The  case  of  Ogo  will  throw  a  melancholy  light  on 
this  deeply  interesting  part  of  French  colonial  history 
in  St.  Domingue. 

Tliis  individual,  the  colored  son  of  a  white  colonist, 
had,  by  his  education  in  France,  acquired  a  full  sense 
and  consciousness  of  his  dignity  as  a  man,  and  on  his 
return  to  his  home,  boldly  demanded  of  the  colonial 
government  his  rights  as  such.  It  should  be  under 
stood  that  this  demand  was  not  simply  for  himself,  it 
was  in  the  name  of  his  fellows  ;  but  it  was  received 
by  those  on  whom  it  was  made,  both  with  contempt 
and  indignation.  A  mock  trial  was  the  result  of  this 
demand,  and  the  end  of  this  iniquitous  proceeding,  in 
the  name  of  law,  was,  that  this  unhappy,  although 
noble  minded  man,  was,  with  another^  led  out  to 
execution,  and  in  open  day,  before  the  great  church 
of  this  noted  city,  was  publicly,  and  with  the  most 
humiliating  ceremonies,  broken  on  the  wheel,  his 
thighs,  legs,  arms,  and  loins,  being  broken  by  blows, 
inflicted  with  heavy  bars  of  iron.  This  disgraceful 
scene  took  place  in  the  city  of  Cape  Haytien,  on  the 
25th  of  February,  1791." 

It  is  not  surprising  that  the  general  course  of 
oppression,  which  led  to  the  barbarous  execution  of 
Oge  and  others,  should  at  last  have  roused  and  set 
fire  to  the  fiercest  passions  of  our  nature.  This  was, 
indeed,  the  case.  Struggles  and  contests  came  on, 
and  the  passions  rose  to  fury,  until  opposing  armies 
of  mutual  hate  were  formed.  Nor  was  it  to  be  sup- 

*  T.  Madiou's  History  of  Hayti. 


4:0  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

posed  that  France  would  lose  so  splendid  a  colony, 
without  making  the  utmost  effort  to  keep  it.  We 
therefore  here  give  a  statistic  sketch  of  the  great 
armaments,  and  immense  expense,  so  promptly  and 
unsparingly  put  forth  by  the  home  government,  as  the 
beginning  of  this  dreadful  struggle,  which  has  taken 
its  place  upon  the  page  of  history. 

The  following  statement  will  enable  us  to  form 
some  idea  of  the  forces  sent  from  France  to  St. 
Domingo  during  the  years  1802  and  1803 : 

FIRST   EXPEDITION. 

Troops  of  all  sorts,  sent  from  Brest,  under  command  of 

Viluret  Joyeuse,  on  board  eigh teen-men-of-war 6,000 

On  the  Lorient,  and  two  others 900 

A  squadron,  by  Admiral  Gauthcaume 4,000 

A  squadron,  by  Admiral  Latouche 4,000 

A  squadron,  by  Admiral  Liiiois 2.000 

A  squadron  from  Havre 1,000 

A  Dutch  squadron,  Admiral  Hurtzwitch 1,500 

SECOND    EXPEDITION. 

In  June,  "  Expeditionnaire  " 1 ,600 

On  board  the  Formidable  and  Annibal 1,600 

On  board  three  men-of-war,  in  August 4,000 

On  board  the  Yautour TOO 

On  board  the  Lodi 2,000 

On  board  the  Egyptian 2,570 

On  board  the  Prudent 512 

On  board  the  Jeanne  Edouard 227 

THIED   EXPEDITION. 

A  division  under  Kochambeau 6,000 

A  division  under  Admiral  Bedout 6,000 

On  board  several  men-of-war 4,000 

On  board  several  vessels 1,500 

On  boaM  the  frigate  Infatigablc 1,000 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  41 

LOSSES   UNDER   GENERAL   LECLERC, 

During  nine  months,  according  to  statistics  given  by  the  French 
General,  Pamphile  Lacroix. 

Whites  of  both  sexes,  murdered  in  various  ways 3,000 

General  officers  of  all  sorts,  by  sickness  or  war 2,000 

Soldiers  slain  in  battle 5,000 

Soldiers  lost  by  sickness 20,000 

Sailors  by  war  and  sickness 8,000 

Sailors  of  merchantmen,  by  war  and  sickness 3,000 

Men  in  Government  employ,  civil  and  military 

Lost  by  war  and  disease 2,000 

Men  engaged  in  commerce 3,000 

Natives  killed  in  war 0,800 

Natives  lost  by  disease  in  Government  service  ....    ....   1,800 

Blacks  and  colored  by  war V,000 

Blacks  and  colored,  drowned  and  murdered,  judicially. . .  4,000 

In  these  harrowing  details,  we  see  the  price  which 
it  cost,  not  to  retain,  but  to  lose  this  splendid  colony 
The  elements  themselves  fought  against  the  Europe 
ans  ;  in  fact,  that  which  sheds  so  deep  a  gloom  on 
this  already  dark  and  melancholy  picture,  is  the 
unhappy  fact,  that  the  leading  purpose  of  this  mighty 
armament,  involving  such  an  immense  expenditure 
of  gold,  life,  and  suffering,  was,  not  to  liberate  man 
kind,  and  thus  carry  out  the  great  principles  of 
liberty,  for  which  France  had  convulsed  all  Europe, 
but  it  was  a  gigantic  effort  to  re-enslave  those  who, 
having  already  drank  the  gall  and  bitterness  of 
bondage,  were  now  beginning  to  taste  the  sweets  of 
liberty — France  herself  having  declared  all  men  free 
and  equal !  So  uncertain  are  even  the  greatest  gusts 
of  political  winds,  which  are  raised  by  hollow  and 
exaggerated  principles. 

Doubtless,  the  climate,  which  was  so  unfriendly  to 


42  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

European  constitutions,  became  a  powerful  weapon 
in  the  Lands  of  the  Haytians  against  their  enemies ; 
and,  like  men  of  war,  they  knew  how  to  turn  every 
means  to  their  own  advantage,  which  they  most  cer 
tainly  did  in  every  conceivable  manner.  Yet  it  can 
not  be  denied,  that  they  fought  bravely,  whenever 
necessity  placed  them  in  the  front  of  their  enemies, 
notwithstanding  their  army  was  composed  of  men 
•who  had  but  just  come  forth  from  the  withering 
darkness  of  slavery.  In  fact,  that  an  army  composed 
of  almost  chaos  itself,  should  have  shown  phalanxes 
of  good  order  and  rigid  discipline,  was  not  to  be 
expected  ;  still  it  is  not  to  be  denied  that  the  Hay- 
tian  arms,  in  connection  with  the  fiery  elements  of 
the  tropics,  etc.,  did  confound  and  triumph  over  some 
of  the  best  troops  that  ever  left  the  shores  of  France. 
But  the  fact  is,  that  neither  intelligence,  discipline, 
or  bravery,  can  successfully  maintain  war  against 
such  deadly  powers,  especially  when  they  are  at  the 
command  of  those  who  are  at  home  in  them,  who 
know  well  how  to  use  them,  and  above  all,  who  have 
right  on  their  side. 

Although  it  is  not  the  design  of  this  volume  to 
enter  fully  into  the  details  of  those  sanguinary  wars, 
by  which  the  Haytians  won  their  liberty,  it  is  but 
just  to  the  memory  of  the  brave  that  fell  in  this  great 
struggle,  and  also  to  those  who  nobly  stood  by  them 
when  they  fell,  to  record  those  deeds  of  valor,  which 
in  all  ages  have  ever  been  appreciated  and  applauded. 
One  narration  of  this  nature  may  be  due  to  Hayti. 
This  was  the  attack  of  the  French  army  in  the  affair 
of  what  is  called  "  La  crete  a  Pierrot." 

The  place  thus  named,  was  a  fortification  in  the 


FROM    HISTORICAL  NOTES.  43 

northern  part  of  the  island,  which  in  itself  was  said 
to  have  been  comparatively  insignificant,  and  was 
originally  built,  it  would  appear,  by  the  English, 
being  situated  about  a  mile  from  the  village,  in  the 
plain  of  the  Artibomte,  called  "  La  Petite  Riviere." 
One  side  of  this  fortress  is  nearly  perpendicular,  while 
from  the  north  and  south  the  approaches  are  difficult, 
and  are  covered  with  a  considerable  quantity  of 
underwood,  and  some  large  trees,  under  cover  of 
which,  the  French  made  their  attacks.  Three  unsuc 
cessful  assaults  were  made  by  the  French,  in  their 
attempts  to  take  this  memorable  fort.  According  to 
General  Pamphile  La  Croix,  who  commanded  one 
of  the  divisions  of  the  French  army  on  that  occasion, 
the  attacking  force  amounted  fully  to  twelve  thou 
sand  men,  while  the  native  garrison  could  not  have 
been  more  than  twelve  hundred,  under  the  command 
of  Le  Chef  de  Brigade  Larnartini&re. 

The  amount  of  the  attacking  forces  in  this  affair 
would  scarcely  have  been  credible,  had  not  the 
account  been  transmitted  to  us  by  an  evidently 
generous  enemy  in  the  French  army. 

The  little  army  holding  the  fort  against  such  fear 
ful  odds,  being  sorely  pressed,  and  very  naturally 
despairing,  resolved  at  last  to  sell  their  lives  as  dear 
as  possible,  and  therefore  came  to  the  final  resolution 
of  cutting  their  way  through  the  superior  forces  of 
the  French  ;  hence  they  rushed  forth — their  dash  was 
furious ;  nearly  one-half  of  them  fell  as  they  drove 
through  the  ranks  of  their  enemies,  the  remaining 
half  victoriously  joining  the  main  Black  Army 
beyond. 

This  feat  is  justly  celebrated  as  a  great  and  deadly 


44:  IIAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

one  in  Haytian  history,  and  is  admitted  to  be  such 
by  the  candid  French  military  historian,  already 
named,  who  was  present  at  the  time,  and  who  relates 
this  extraordinary  case,  with  a  frankness  which 
commands  admiration.  This  event  took  place  in 
March,  1802.* 

Men  of  renown  in  arms,  although  many  of  them 
without  any  other  education  than  that  which  was 
imprinted  on  their  souls  by  the  existing  circum 
stances  which  surrounded  them,  had  now  risen  up  in 
Hayti.  Toussaint,  Dessalines,  Christophe,  Petion, 
Rigaud,  with  many  others,  were  already  high  in 
military  fame,  and  in  that  cause  of  independence 
which  long  has  been  the  glory  of  Hayti.  They  had 
all  shown  themselves  to  be  no  ordinary  men,  having 
secured  the  liberties  of  an  oppressed  people  by  feats 
of  valor  and  renown.  It  may  indeed  be  said,  that 
they  were  men  of  fury  and  of  blood,  nor  is  it  to  be 
denied  that  such  was  the  case,  although  certainly  not 
more  so  than  their  opponents,  whose  arms,  in  this 
case,  were  tarnished  by  the  defence  of  an  unrighteous 
cause,  as  well  as  much  needless  cruelty. 

Nevertheless,  such  were  the  leading  Haytian  spirits 
of  this  remarkable  epoch — men  who  had  been  raised 
to  their  elevation  in  the  affairs  of  their  own  people, 
by  circumstances  over  which  they  had  had  no  con 
trol.  Nor.is  it  to  be  denied  that  they  were  singularly 
fitted  for  their  times  and  circumstances.  They  were 
indeed  men  of  war,  and  therefore  they  used  the  sword 
unsparingly,  and  without  hesitation,  whenever  it  was 
needed.  Nor  let  it  be  forgotten,  that  whatever  bar 
barities  were  practiced,  when  the  passions  rose,  they 
*  Mackenzie's  Notes  on  Hayti. 


FKOM    HISTORICAL   NOTES.  45 

wore  only  the  imitations  of  an  enemy  with  which 
they  had  to  contend,  whose  pretentions  to  superiority 
in  all  respects  were  sufficiently  great.  It  were, 
indeed,  an  easy  task  to  show  that  the  provocations 
of  the  Europeans  of  those  times,  in  too  many 
instances,  consisted  of  the  most  barbarous  atrocities 
that  ever  tortured  human  nature.  But  the  white 
man's  provocations  doubtless  commenced  in  the 
theft  of  human  beings  on  the  coasts  of  Africa,  and 
were  continued  through  generations  of  such  slavery 
as  was  never  surpassed  in  cruelty  and  oppression  by 
either  Egyptians,  Greeks,  or  Romans. 

Here  doubtless  will  be  found  the  root  and  origin 
of  all  Dessaline's  fury  and  cruelty.  Here,  too,  was 
the  false  starti rig-point  of  those  who  brought  superior 
minds  and  arms  to  this  great  contest;  and  if  the 
dignity  of  independence  is  to  be  judged  by  the 
extent  of  life,  blood,  and  treasure,  laid  down  for  it, 
then  indeed  will  the  merits  of  Haytian  independence 
appear  to  be  great.  But  injustice  and  oppression 
have  never,  in  the  whole  history  of  mankind,  failed 
ultimately  to  work  out  their  own  destruction. 

The  Haytians,  therefore,  in  their  wars,  have  simply 
shown  themselves  to  be  as  other  men,  nor  will  history 
fail  to  do  them  justice,  for  the  leading  minds  among 
them  at  their  national  birth,  were  evidently,  in  many 
respects,  equal  to  some  of  the  most  advanced  spirits 
of  that  age,  on  the  great  questions  of  human  rights 
and  general  liberty. 

But  war  has  not  always  been  the  only  phase  of 
Haytian  existence;  although,  like  many  other  nations, 
this  was  the  fiery  element  through  which  it  rose  into 
form  and  power. 


46  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

For  a  moment,  therefore,  let  us  turn  our  thoughts 
back  to  the  commercial,  educational,  and  religious 
interests  of  this  remarkable  community,  during  its 
colonial  existence,  especially  as  many  of  the  elements 
of  the  present  national  peculiarities  of  Hayti  are 
derived  from  the  colonial  regime,  which  was  certainly 
not  without  some  few  good  and  interesting  features. 

With  regard  to  commerce,  it  can  easily  be  under 
stood  that  the  great  and  exhaustless  resources  of  an 
incomparably  fertile  soil,  together  with  an  insatiable 
desire  for  wealth,  w^ould  certainly,  with  the  power  of 
life  and  death  in  hand,  drive  on  industry  at  a  rapid, 
yea,  fearful  rate.  In  fact,  the  sum  total  of  the  pro 
duce  of  St.  Domingue  became  the  wonder  and  admi 
ration  of  Europe,  although  the  thought  but  rarely 
occurred  in  those  days,  that  this  was  all  iniquitously 
drawn  from  Africa.  Bat  with  this  power  in  hand 
over  a  population  of  about  700,000,  the  result  of 
industry  would  be  immense.  It  will  not  be  astonish 
ing,  therefore,  that  in  1801,  the  produce  was — 

Sugar  of  all  sorts 18,535,112  Ihs. 

Coffee 43,220,270   u 

Cotton 2,480,340    " 

Logwood ' 6,768,034   " 

Cocoa— Chocolate 648,518    " 

Sirup 99,419    " 

Gum 75,519    " 

Indigo 804    " 

Mahogany 5,217  ft. 

Besides  which,  an  immense  traffic  was  carried  on 
in  skins  and  a  variety  of  woods. 

In  this  year  were  found  in  the  French  part  of  the 

island — 

Horses 37,782 

Mules 48,852 

Horned  cattle 247,612  * 

*  Madiou's  History. 


FEOM   HISTORICAL  NOTES.  47 

Such,  in  fact,  was  the  amount  of  wealth,  resulting 
from  the  tremendous  pressure  of  oppression,  which 
the  system  of  slavery  brought  to  bear  upon  the  great 
mass  of  the  slaves,  that  the  aristocracy  of  the  colony 
lived  in  splendor  seldom  equaled,  as  may  be  seen  by 
some  of  the  French  historians  of  that  day,  as  well  as 
by  the  mansion-like  remains,  which  are  still  standing 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  present  republic. 

But  a  system  which  outraged  every  feeling  of 
human  nature,  could  not,  in  the  nature  of  things,  con 
solidate  ;  sooner  or  later,  in  such  a  case,  'all  must 
change,  either  by  reasonable  or  violent  means. 

On  the  subject  of  education,  under  the  colonial 
dispensation,  it  will  be  easy  to  conceive  that  any 
thing  like  a  really  developed,  or  widely  extended 
system  of  tuition,  would  not  even  be  thought  of, 
simply  because  it  was  not  compatible,  or  even  pos 
sible,  with  the  existence  of  slavery.  In  fact,  with 
any  kind  of  despotism,  the  one  thing  needful  is 
ignorance.  The  elevation  and  instruction  of  every 
and  each  individual  in  a  community  belongs  rather 
to  our  own  day. 

At  the  same  time,  the  various  historians  that  have 
written  on  St.  Domingue,  inform  us  that  education 
was  not  altogether  neglected  in  the  colony,  and  that 
here  and  there  were  individuals  of  both  the  clergy 
and  others,  \vho  manifested  more  or  less  interest  on 
this  subject.  But  in  all  such  matters,  we  have  sim 
ply  to  bear  in  mind  the  tendency  and  spirit  of  the 
age.  Still,  there  were  even  in  those  days,  some  few 
establishments  founded,  for  both  monks  and  nuns, 
with  doubtless  good  intentions;  but  the  centres  of 
real  good  were  indeed  few,  and  their  aims  were 


48  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

limited.  This  indeed,  at  this  time,  was  the  case 
throughout  Europe;  in  fact,  up  to  the  end  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  even  in  the  most  advanced  por 
tions  of  the  civilized  world,  the  education  of  the 
masses  was  rather  dreaded  than  sought. 

The  great  movement  in  Hayti  did  not,  therefore, 
begin  in  a  thirst  for  knowledge,  nor  was  it  the  off 
spring  of  a  widely  diffused  or  national  education  ;  it 
was  rather  the  effect  of  the  French  revolution,  which 
was  the  great  event  of  that  day,  and  which,  notwith 
standing  all  its  horrors,  nobly  declared  all  men  to 
be  free ! 

Whether  the  fierce  leaders  of  that  astonishing  con 
vulsion  of  humanity  remembered  that  the  descend 
ants  of  Africa  in  St.  Domingue  had  ears  to  hear,  and 
hearts  to  feel,  on  this  great  question,  need  not  now 
be  discussed ;  although  it  must  be  admitted,  that  the 
colored  people  of  the  French  colonies  were  honorably 
treated,  and  well  received  in  France,  as  the  repre 
sentatives  of  their  people. 

On  the  subject  of  religion,  although  it  was  much 
more  widely  diffused  than  education,  yet  that  it  was 
such  as  really  regenerates  the  heart,  may  be  fairly 
questioned.  On  this  subject,  two  things  are  to  be 
noted : 

First,  that  the  ceremonies  and  general  ritual  of  the 
church  of  Rome  prevailed,  as  far  as  Christianity  was 
concerned. 

Secondly,  that  African  superstitions  were  believed 
and  practiced  to  an  awful  extent.  In  fact,  to  enter 
fully  into  detail  on  this  question,  would  require  a 
volume  of  no  ordinary  size,  and  would  most  certainly 
bring  out  some  awful  developments.  Certain  it  is, 


FKOM    HISTORICAL   NOTES.  49 

that  the  presence  and  pernicious  influence  of  African 
superstitions  was  the  constant  complaint  of  the 
colonial  writers.  Doubtless  there  were  in  this 
colonial  community  many  well  intentioned  people. 
But  the  foundations  of  society  here  were  wrong,  and 
the  very  structure  of  things  was  incompatible  with 
true  Christian  principle. 

One  of  the  leading  superstitions  introduced  from 
Africa  wras  Yandouism,  of  which  the  presiding  god 
is  called  Vandoux.  The  disciples  of  this  creed  are 
generally  formed  into  organized  and  united  societies, 
which  are  bound  by  solemn  oath  to  secrecy. 

We  are  informed  by  a  French  writer*  that  the 
word  Yandoux  is  said  to  mean,  in  the  African  sense, 
an  almighty,  omnipresent,  and  omniscient  being. 
We  are  also  informed  that  this  being  is  represented 
by  a  snake  or  serpent,  not  venomous.  But  whatever 
may  have  been  the  original  meaning  of  the  word  in 
question,  it  is  impossible  to  suppose  it  to  have  been 
so  understood  by  the  Africans  themselves,  unless  we 
are  to  understand  it  as  a  proof,  that  an  advanced  state 
of  civilization  at  one  time  existed  in  Africa — an  idea 
in  perfect  harmony  with  much  that  has  been  said  of 
the  main  divisions  of  the  human  family. 

But  the  ceremonies  and  rites  connected  with  the 
Yandoux  worship,  are  minutely  detailed  by  the 
author  last  referred  to.  They  are  painfully  interest 
ing,  and  lead  to  the  inevitable  conclusion,  that  the 
climax  of  the  system  is  immorality  and  perdition.f 

*  Morau  St.  Mery. 

t  The  Vandoux  dance,  in  which  both  sexes  engaged— frequently 
under  the  influence  of  intoxicating  drinks — would  lead  on  to  a 
sort  of  religious  phrenzy,  which  terminated  in  the  greatest 
obscenities. 


50  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

Such  was  the  general  state  of  things  under  the 
colonial  system  in  St.  Domingue.  Commerce  and 
wealth  were  abundant,  but  all  was  the  effect  of 
brutal  force,  and  not  the  happy  fruit  of  spontaneous 
industry  ; — literature  and  education,  with  very  little 
exception,  being  excluded. 

The  details  of  this  unhapy  state  of  things,  as  here 
given,  are  not  indeed  minute.  But  perhaps  enough 
has  been  said,  for  our  general  guidance,  in  forming 
our  ideas  on  the  question  in  hand,  and  to  enable  us 
to  see  that  the  forming  materials  for  this  nation  con 
sisted  principally  of  masses  of  human  beings,  which 
had  been  brought  over  by  ship  loads  from  Africa, 
each  mind  being  steeped  in  foul  and  gloomy  super 
stitions,  which  had  been  handed  down  from  genera 
tion  to  generation,  for  many  ages  past,  unaccom 
panied  by  any  ray  of  light,  on  any  really  good  and 
useful  subject. 

True,  the  imported  Africans  now  found  themselves 
in  contact  with  light  and  intelligence,  which  they 
had  never  known  before.  But  in  the  case  of  their 
now  white  masters,  the  melancholy  fact  stands  clearly 
out,  that  religion  and  knowledge  were  wielded  as 
mighty  powers,  to  awe  the  enslaved  masses  into  the 
degrading  belief,  that  they  were  really  inferior 
beings.  Nor  is  it  to  be  questioned,  that  this  ruling 
idea,  so  essential  to  the  security  of  an  unrighteous 
power,  was  worked  out  and  acted  upon,  until  all 
sense  of  manhood  was  at  last  annihilated,  together 
with  every  noble  feeling,  even  of  their  former 
savage  state ;  all  was  degradation,  both  to  the  high 
and  to  the  low.  Hence  the  whole  course  of  things 
was  ruinous  to  all  parties ;  the  master  dared  from 


FROM    HISTORICAL    NOTES.  51 

fear,  and  the  bondman  submitted  from  the  same  base 
motive,  until  all  was  error,  tyranny,  and  corruption. 

Such  a  people  seizing  their  liberty,  and  wresting 
it  by  force  of  arms,  from  an  enemy  vastly  superior  to 
themselves,  would  inevitably  involve  the  necessity 
of  a  military  system,  as  the  only  means  under  such 
circumstances  of  protecting  their  liberty.  They  had 
indeed  beaten  oif  their  enemy,  but  there  was  reason 
to  believe  that  his  purpose  was  to  re-enslave,  as  was 
evident  in  the  case  of  some  of  the  other  French 
colonies,  where  slavery  had  been  recommenced. 

Hence  the  sword,  which  had  become  the  deliverer, 
became  the  protector,  and  ultimately,  the  ruler  of  the 
nation.  Justice,  therefore,  compels  us  to  admit,  that 
the  character  and  style  of  the  Haytian  Republic, 
as  to  public  institutions,  were  formed  under  the 
most  unhappy  circumstances ;  and  it  might  perhaps 
safely  be  said,  that  this  nation  stands  alone  as  to  the 
circumstances  of  its  origin  and  formation.  Neverthe 
less,  there  were  among  the  originators  of  Haytian 
independence,  minds  well  formed,  and  of  enlarged 
views,  as  to  what  a  free  people  ought  to  be,  as  may 
be  understood  from  the  fact  already  mentioned,  that 
many  of  the  sons  of  the  colonists  had  received  their 
education  in  France.  Yet  it  will  be  easily  under 
stood,  that  these  men,  with  their  educational  advan 
tages,  were  greatly  embarrassed  by  a  mass  of  igno 
rance,  of  which  they  were  greatly  in  advance,  and  yet 
without  which  they  could  not  act,  although  they 
could  not  in  all  cases  control  them. 

It  is,  however,  an  extraordinary  fact,  that  even 
from  the  uneducated  masses  of  those  days,  men 
would  almost  suddenly  appear,  who  often  seemed 


52  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

to  be  singularly  fitted  for  the  work,  which  divine 
Providence  evidently  meant  them  to  accomplish  in 
behalf  of  their  people. 

The  spirit  of  the  French  revolution,  with  its  gene 
ral  bearing,  became  well  known  to  and  understood 
by  the  Haytians  ;  but  the  details  of  its  influence  and 
general  working  upon  this  infant  people,  must  be 
left  to  the  future  historians  of  events  relating  to 
Hayti.  "We,  however,  must  not  lose  sight  of  the 
revolutionary  spirit,  which  thus  innoculated  this 
nation  from  its  very  birth,  and  which,  from  want  of 
the  habit  of  free  and  open  discussion,  political  or 
otherwise,  have  been,  in  a  certain  sense,  the  only 
safety-valves  of  the  nation. 

From  the  general  working  of  circumstances  and 
events,  rose  that  remarkable  man,  Toussaint  L'Ouver- 
ture,  who  as  a  slave,  faithfully  served  his  kind 
master,  Mons.  Bayou,  as  coachman.  Toussaint,  in 
gratitude  to  his  benefactor,  who  had  given  him  more 
or  less  education,  not  only  aided  him  in  his  flight  to 
the  United  States,  but  also  in  supporting  him  in  his 
exile  there;  and  being  then  at  liberty,  joined  the 
insurgents  under  Jean  Francois,  by  whom  he  was 
rapidly  promoted. 

Toussaint,  in  this  case  it  would  seem,  simply  fought 
for  royalty,  under  the  impression  that  it  was  the 
form  of  government  best  suited  to  his  people.  This 
royalist  party  was  then  in  connection  with  Spain. 
But  Toussaint  L'Ouverture  soon  left  the  Spanish 
service,  and  was  accepted  by  the  French  General 
Laveaux,  by  whom  he  was  made  a  general.  Tous 
saint  was  soon  recognized  as  a  man  of  great  ability, 
and  as  such,  his  influence  over  the  blacks  would 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  53 

naturally  be  very  great.  He  now  promoted  the 
French  interests,  and  soon  drove  the  Spaniards  in  all 
quarters. 

Ultimately  Toussaint  L'Ouverture  was  invested, 
by  the  French  Commissioners,  with  the  office  and 
dignity  of  General-in-Chief  of  St.  Doinihgne. 

The  conviction  that  the  French  were  sincere  in 
their  declarations  as  to  Liberty,  doubtless  won  Tons- 
saint  back  to  them; 

On  the  14th  of  February,  1794,  entire  liberty  to 
all  men  was  proclaimed  by  the  French  Republic,  in 
tentionally  involving  the  abolition  of  slavery,  and 
this  was  ratified  by  the  reception  of  Black  and  Col 
ored  Deputies,  which  were  sent  from  St.  Domingue 
to  represent  that  branch  of  the  French  Empire  ;  nor 
shotild  this  remarkable  circumstance,  connected  with 
the  great  French  He  volution,  be  lost  sight  of,  or 
slightly  passed  over  ;  for  it  ought  to  be  remembered 
that  nations,  which  in  those  days  made  far  greater 
pretentious  to  Christianity  than  Revolutionary 
France,  then,  and  even  long  after,  held  men  in  chains. 

The  declaration  in  France  of  universal  liberty  was, 
in  this  case,  practically  carried  out ;  and  the  proof  of 
sincerity,  at  least  in  the  dominant  party  of  the  day, 
with  regard  to  the  entire  equality  of  mankind,  was 
seen  in  the  great  fact  that  all  shades  of  color,  as  Re 
presentatives  from  St.  Domingue,  took  their  seats 
with  their  White  Brethren,  now  their  recognized  and 
acknowledged  equals,  as  in  fact  they  were  in  intelli 
gence,  civilization,  and  education. 

Whatever  horrors,  therefore,  distinguished  the  un 
paralleled  convulsion  produced  by  the  French  Re 
volution  of  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century,  the 


64:  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

recognized  equality  of  mankind,  on  the  subject  of 
color,  was  an  honor  which  no  other  nation,  however 
Christian,  had  at  that  time  acquired,  and  which,  even 
at  this  day,  we  are  compelled  to  applaud,  at  least  as 
to  all  who  were  really  sincere  in  this  matter  j  for,  it 
must  be  admitted  that  subsequent  events  proved  but 
too  clearly  that  they  were  only  a  portion,  however 
powerful,  of  the  French  nation  whose  views  were 
thus  liberal. 

The  French  Commissioners  in  the  Colony  of  St. 
Domingue,  it  should  be  stated,  had,  in  an  hour  of 
alarm,  proclaimed  the  Emancipation  of  the  Slaves, 
who  were  now  in  great  excitement  from  fear  of  be 
ing  again  re-enslaved  ;  but,  under  the  power  and  in 
fluence  of  Toussaint,  as  General-in-Chief,  they  were 
soon  marshalled  into  a  body  of  industrious  free 
lab  orei*s. 

Up  to  a  late  period  of  his  life,  Toussaint  remained 
faithful  to  the  French,  who  long  were  indebted  to  his 
unlimited  influence  over  the  masses  ;  but  he  was  also 
inflexibly  true  to  the  great  cause  of  Liberty  ;  yet 
his  fidelity  to  France  is  seen  in  the  fact,  that  while 
he  served  the  French,  he  maintained  and  kept  up 
the  produce,  prosperity,  and  general  industry  of  the 
country;  a  fact  which,  in  connection  with  the  unde 
niable  injustice  and  oppression  of  the  "White  Colo 
nists,  throws  the  guilt  of  all  the  blood  which  was 
shed  in  the  Revolutionary  struggles  of  St.  Domingue 
upon  the  Whites ;  who,  by  plain  honesty  and 
impartial  justice,  might  have  saved  their  lives,  their 
country,  and  their  fame. 

During  the  time  of  Toussaint  L'Ouverture,  the 
English  had  been  called  in  from  Jamaica  by  the 


FROM   HISTOEICAL   NOTES.  55 

French  White  Planters,  and  they  soon  began  to  dis 
play  their  power,  ultimately  establishing  themselves 
at  Port-au-Prince  and  other  places ;  but  their  mili 
tary  force  was  always  comparatively  small,  and 
they  at  last  evacuated  ;  to  this  day,  however,  several 
forts,  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  are  pointed 
out  as  having  been  built  by  the  English. 

It  is  said  by  a  French  author  *  that  the  British, 
during  their  stay  in  the  country,  offered  Toussaint  to 
create  him  King,  and  to  sustain  his  Independence  ; 
tins,  however,  he  is  said  to  have  declined,  notwith 
standing  he  was,  like  most  men,  ambitious  of  power ; 
while  at  the  same  time  the  sending  of  his  two  sons  to 

O 

France  for  their  education,  strongly  indicated  his 
entire  fidelity  to  that  country,  and  that  he  did  not 
aspire  to  anything  beyond  the  honors  which  he  then 
enjoyed,  and  of  which  he  had  shown  himself  worthy. 

In  1805,  Toussaint  decided  on  extending  his  rule 
through  the  Southern  part  of  St.  Domingue,  where 
General  Rigaud  had  long  presided  as  Military  Chief. 
Toussaint  having  the  masses  with  him,  and  being 
himself  popular,  it  was,  perhaps,  to  be  expected  that 
Higaud's  party  should  disappear,  although  headed  by 
a  man  of  no  ordinary  character. 

Toussaint  prevailed,  and  having  thus  made  himself 
master  of  the  whole  of  the  French  part  of  the  Island, 
he  now  marched  upon  the  city  of  Santo  Domingo, 
the  ancient  city  of  the  Spanish  part  of  Hayti ;  here 
also  his  arms  were  victorious,  so  that  the  extent  of 
his  Empire  was  the  entire  length  and  breadth  of  the 
Island ;  his  rule  was  severe  and  rigid ;  indeed,  one 
Haytian  historian  speaks  of  him  as  having  been  ex 
ceedingly  cruel,  f 

*  Pampkile  la  Croix,          j  St.  Reiiy  cle  Cayes. 


56  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

There  is,  indeed,  something  significant  in  the  two 
last  named  campaigns ;  a  full  narration  of  them 
would,  doubtless,  be  exceedingly  interesting ;  that 
they  had  a  definite  object  in  view  is  not  to  be  doubted, 
but  notwithstanding  the  well  demonstrated  honor  of 
Toussaint,  the  suspicions  of  Napoleon  were  probably 
roused  by  his  great  successes  and  power,  as  in  fact 
became  quite  apparent  in  the  end. 

After  the  conquest  of  the  city  of  Santo  Domingo, 
Toussaint  convoked  an  "  Assemblee  Constituante," 
composed  of  the  leading  Generals  of  his  army  ;  from 
this  body  emanated  a  document  in  the  form  of  a 
Constitution,  the  proclamation  of  which  was  offensive 
to  JSTapoleon  I.,  who,  on  hearing  of  it,  declared  that 
Toussaint,  by  this  act,  had  thrown  off  the  mask  and 
drawn  the  sword  from  the  scabbard  for  ever.  How 
he  could  have  arrived  at  such  a  conclusion,  is  diffi 
cult  to  understand ;  Toussaint  having,  in  all  good 
faith,  sent  him  a  copy  of  all  the  proceedings  for  his 
examination  and  approval ;  the  French,  however, 
from  this  time  ceased  to  consider  Toussaint  true  to 
them. 

That  the  rule  of  Toussaint  L'Ouverture  should 
have  been  harsh  and  severe,  is  not  astonishing,  for 
he  had  resolved  to  keep  up  the  produce  of  the  Island, 
and  having  himself  been  trained  to  do  this  by  brutal 
force,  he  probably  deemed  it  the  only  means  of  ac 
complishing  his  purpose  ;  nor  are  we  to  lose  sight  of 
the  fact,  that  he  could  not  be  expected  to  have  had 
any  really  correct  idea  of  free  Institutions  or  free 
Government. 

Toussaint,  however,  remained  true  to  the  French 
as  long  as  they  themselves  remained  faithful  to  the 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  57 

leading  principles  of  tlieir  own  great  Revolution,  in 
relation  to  universal  Liberty  ;  nor  is  it  to  be  sup 
posed  that  his  own  nature  could  go  beyond  this ;  but 
on  the  arrival  of  the  last  army  sent  by  Napoleon 
L,  under  General  Leclerc,  the  suspicions  and  fears  of 
the  Haytians  were  greatly  excited  by  the  fact,  that 
while  the  highest  pretensions  and  the  strongest  as 
surances  were  made  as  to  sustaining  the  liberties  of 
the  Haytians,  the  other  French  AVest  India  Colonies 
had  been  again  reduced  to  slavery.  Here,  then,  was 
fearful  reason  for  any  change  which  might  show  itself 
in  Toussaint.  He  was  faithful  to  the  liberty  which 
the  French  Revolution  had  proclaimed,  and  he  was 
resolved  to  maintain  it ;  but  the  French  Islands  of 
Guadaloupe  and  Martinique  having  been  again  com 
pelled  to  bow  to  the  iron  yoke  of  slavery,  he  con 
cluded  that  it  was  impossible  that  the  richer  colony 
of  St.  Domingue  should  remain  free. 

There  was  great  dignity  in  the  stand  of  the  noble 
hearted  Toussaint  L'Ouverture  for  Liberty  ;  nor  will 
the  true  historian  of  Hayti  fail  to  give  him  all  due 
honor ;  while  posterity  will  never  cease  to  deplore 
that  he  was  seized  by  order  of  General  Brunet,  put 
on  board  a  French  man-of-war,  and  carried  off  to 
France,  where  he  was  thrown  into  the  Fortress  of 
Joux,  in  the  Department  of  Jura.  Toussaint  L'Ou 
verture  was  taken  on  the  llth  of  February,  1802 
and  died,  it  is  said,  of  starvation  in  the  month  of 
April  the  following  year,  within  the  walls  of  the 
above-named  fortress. 


CHAPTEE    II. 

French  cruelty  to  Haytians. — Dessalines  proclaims  Independ 
ence. — 800  Whites  fall  at  St.  Marks. — Ferrand's  Proclamation. — 
Dessalines  marches  on  Santo  Domingo. — Viet  flogged  to  death. 
Dessalines  retreats. — Christophe  carries  off  hundreds. — Dessa- 
liues  shot. — "  L'Assemblee  Constituante" — Report  to  Christophe 
on  Petion's  Constitution. — Christophe  marches  on  Port  au 
Prince.— The  Republican's  routed. —Christophe  retreats. — The 
Senate  provides  for  Northern  exiles. — Laws  of  Christophe  on 
Marriage,  etc. — "  Ou'peut  on  este  mieux,"  etc. — The  two  States 
compared. — Rebecca  Port  de  Paix. — Lamarre  Gardel,  etc. — Gen. 
Borgella  joins  the  Republic. — Christophe  proclaimed  King. — • 
Christophe's  Crueltj'  to  his  Servant. — -The  Constitution  read  by 
every  Haytian. 


The  great  primeval  chaos  of  the  earth 

Compared  with  that  which  from  foul  passions  bursts, 

Was  order ! 


THE  French  now  having  the  strongest  assurance 
that  the  blacks  of  St.  Domingo  were  fully  bent  on 
maintaining  their  freedom,  gave  way  to  every  evil 
passion,  perpetrating  the  greatest  atrocities,  and  the 
foulest  barbarities  ;  hence  the  pangs  through  which 
this  infant  people  rose  to  independence  were  indeed 
great.  They,  however,  helped  to  form  the  nation, 
and  compelled  its  independence. 

The  unhappy  Haytians  were  seized,  and  drowned 
by  hundreds  in  the  harbors  ;  "others  were  shot,  bay 
oneted,  or  gibbeted,  until  hate,  anger,  and  revenge 
had  reached  their  horrid  climax. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  59 

In  1802,  Petion  and  Clairveaux  revolt  from  the 
French,  and  are  soon  joined  by  Dessalines,  whose 
superior  authority  was  recognized  by  Petion,  and  lie 
soon  became  General. 

The  black  and  colored  people  were  now  finally 
resolved  on  liberty,  but  the  horrors  of  their  struggle 
were  great.  All  parties  became  furious.  The  French 
had  now  yielded  to  the  despair  of  their  threatened 
and  exciting  position,  their  mortified  passions  rose 
high,  and  this  soon  brought  on  the  pitiless  and  retali 
ating  massacre  of  the  whites  by  Dessalines,  whom 
the  fearful  circumstances  of  the  times  had  turned 
into  a  fury. 

The  details  of  the  mutual  cruelties  of  all  parties 
are  fully  entered  into  by  the  Haytian  historian 
already  referred  to,  whose  work  has  been  officially 
acknowledged  by  the  Ilaytian  Government  as 
authentic.* 

Nothing  could  be  more  deplorable  than  the  state 
of  things  at  this  time,  as  described  by  the  historian 
just  referred  to  ;  indeed  it  is  impossible  not  to  read 
in  it  the  simple  truth  that  right,  whether  civil,  politi 
cal,  or  religious,  cannot  be  trampled  upon  with  impu 
nity  ;  sooner  or  later,  if  notxin  one  generation,  in 
another,  a  fearful  reckoning  comes  on,  for  man  is  des 
tined  to  rise  to  the  dignity  of  right,  nor  can  mere 
shades  of  color  hinder  it. 

The  year  1803  was  rendered  remarkable  by  the 
entire  breaking  up  of  the  French  power  in  Hayti ; 
the  now  roused  indignation  of  an  incensed  people,  led 
on  by  able  and  daring  men,  who  had  justice  on  their 
side,  and  were  true  to  the  great  and  righteous  cause 

*  Mad  ion  (Fils.) 


60  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

of  liberty,  proved  to  be  too  much  for  the  abettors  of 
slavery,  although  backed  by  all  that  France  could 
do ;  nor  is  it  for  a  moment  to  be  doubted  that  the 
utmost  efforts  of  a  great  people  were  here  brought 
out,  for  St.  Domingue  had  now  long  "been  the  "  Para- 
dis  des  Francais,"  and  it  was  not  to  be  supposed  that 
it  would  be  given  up  without  a  struggle. 

The  bravery  and  energy  of  Dessalines  were  great, 
and  he  was  very  naturally  considered  by  the  Hay- 
tians  to  be  the  great  hero  of  the  day ;  but  lie  had 
been  inured  to  slavery,  tyranny,  and  blood,  nor  had 
his  mind  been  softened  by  education  ;  yet  he  was  the 
man  for  the  moment,  and  he  had  risen  to  eminence 
amongst  his  fellows  by  military  feats  which  had 
swept  away  the  enemies  of  liberty. 

This  man,  fearing  neither  France  nor  all  the  legions 
she  had  sent  forth,  or  the  yet  greater  she  might  still 
send,  on  the  1st  of  January,  1804,  in  the  city  of 
Ganaives,  solemnly  and  fearlessly  proclaimed  the 
independence  and  sovereignty  of  the  Play  ti an  people, 
and  at  the  same  time  abolished  for  ever  the  name  of 
St.  Domingue,  as  a  name  which  would  only  bring  to 
remembrance  the  deepest  horrors,  and  re-established 
the  aboriginal  name  of  Hayti. 

Thus  singularly  did  a  comparatively  weak  people 
triumph  by  the  mere  justice  of  their  cause — a  people 
which  probably  it  would  have  been  easier  for  France 
to  have  annihilated  than  to  have  subdued. 

Thus  too  may  it  be  said  that  slavery  received  its 
first  great  blow  in  modern  days  ;  and  as  far  as  Hayti 
is  concerned,  1801  may  be  considered  as  an  epoch  of 
no  ordinary  note.  The  fact  is,  that  the  honor  of  the 


FROM    HISTORICAL   NOTES.  61 

first  great  shock  to  this  gigantic  evil  of  modern  times, 
is  due  to  Ilayti. 

Hayti  thus  dared  the  fiends  of  all  the  earth  ; 
They  fled  before  the  glory  of  her  birth. 

Dessalines,  in  the  giddy  whirl  of  victory,  declared 
himself  an  emperor.  It  is,  however,  worthy  of  note, 
that  he  created  neither  nobility  nor  privileged  class 
of  any  kind.  True,  indeed,  the  vanity  of  this  extra 
ordinary  step  was  quite  enough  without  it.  His  rule 
was  marked  by  the  fierceness  of  his  nature  ;  nor  can 
it  be  for  a  moment  surprising  that  such  a  man  should 
have  been  in  an  exclusive  sense  fitted  for  this  one 
great  object,  viz.,  that  of  defying  France,  by  sweep 
ing  slavery  for  ever  from  the  shores  of  Ilayti,  and 
proclaiming  the  sovereignty  and  independence  of  his 
country ;  thus  boldly  starting  the  great  principle  that 
independence  is  the  dignity  of  any  people,  to  which 
God  has  given  in  any  sense  or  manner  a  special 
destiny. 

Tiie  barbarous  drowning  and  gibbeting  of  the 
Ilaytians  by  the  whites,  doubtless  provoked  their 
wholesale  murder  by  the  infuriated  Dessalines,  under 
whose  relentless  sword  men,  women,  and  children,  in 
the  town  and  neighborhood  of  St.  Mark's,  fell — both 
the  provocation  and  revenge  remaining  as  foul 
blots  upon  the  page  of  history  ;  so  true  it  is  that  in 
all  senses  we  reap  that  which  we  sow. 

Eight  hundred  of  all  ages,  and  of  both  sexes,  are 
said  to  have  been  swept  off,  at  one  fell  swoop,  by  the 
ever-memorable  Dessalines,  at  the  last-named  place. 

These  dreadful  events  are  minutely  brought  out 


62  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

by  the  faithful  historian  ;  nor  will  truth  and  justice 
spare  the  guilty,  of  whatever  color  or  people. 

In  1805,  the  French  General  Ferrand,  then  com 
manding  the  city  of  Santo  Domingo,  the  capital  of 
the  Spanish  part  of  the  island,  issued  a  proclamation, 
by  which  all  Spaniards  living  on  the  frontier  were 
empowered  to  reduce  to  slavery  any  of  the  Haytians 
which  they  might  be  able  to  capture.  The  natural 
effect  of  this  iniquitous  measure  was  the  wrath  and 
indignation  of  Dessalines,  who  immediately  decided 
on  marching  against  the  ancient  Spanish  capital,  and 
without  provisioning  his  army,  he  arranges  every 
thing  for  departure  ;  pillage,  therefore,  would  become 
the  only  means  of  subsistence  for  this  army  of  30,000 
men.  This  too  was  intended  by  Dessalines  as  in 
some  sense  punitive,  although  it  unquestionably 
suited  the  poverty  of  his  resources. 

The  country  through  which  this  mass  of  men  had 
to  inarch,  was  in  many  places  mountainous  and 
rugged,  and  frequently  without  anything  worth  call 
ing  a  road.  The  troops  from  the  extreme  west  end 
of  the  island  had  not  less  than  193  leagues  to  march, 
before  reaching  Santo  Domingo. 

In  addition  to  other  difficulties,  it  must  be* remem 
bered  that,  in  the  Spanish  part  of  the  island,  several 
formidable  rivers  would  have  to  be  forded,  or  crossed 
in  large  ferries,  bridges  being  out  of  the  question  ; 
but  this  numerous  army  was  driven  through  every 
difficulty  and  privation  by  the  brutal  proclamation 
of  Ferrand,  which,  as  might  be  supposed,  had  pro 
duced  a  fearful  effect. 

In  due  time  they  arrived  at  the  well-known  pass 
between  two  mountains,  in  the  neighborhood  of 


FROM    HISTORICAL   NOTES.  63 

Azua,  where  a  few  well-directed  cannons  might  defy 
even  a  powerful  army.  Here  Ferrand  considered 
that  the  llaytians  would  certainly  be  entombed. 
Instead  of  this,  however,  to  the  great  astonishment 
of  the  French  and  Spaniards,  they  took  the  Fort, 
which  it  was  thought  would  have  commanded  e very- 
tiling,  in  such  a  position. 

Many  prisoners  were  taken  by  the  Haytians  on 
this  occasion,  and  among  them  the  commandant  of 
the  Fort  which  commanded  this  pass,  named  Viet, 
who  was  brought  before  Dessalines,  and  was  recog 
nized  as  an  old  colonist,  who  had  been  exceedingly 
cruel  on  his  plantation. 

This  unfortunate  man  was  ordered  by  the  Emperor 
to  be  flogged  to  death,  which  was  no  sooner  done,  than 
a  Haytian  soldier  opened  his  breast  with  one  stroke 
of  the  axe,  and  taking  out  his  heart,  devoured  it 
before  the  army.  The  man  that  did  this  abominable 
deed,  was  from  a  cannibal  tribe  in  Africa.  Such  an 
act  was  indeed  horrible  to  think  of  ;  and  yet  it  is  a 
humiliating  fact  that  during  the  French  Revolution 
of  1792,  cases  of  furiously  devouring  human  blood 
are  recorded. 

Dessalines  entered  Azua  on  the  1st  of  March,  and 
on  the  following  4th  of  the  same  month,  he  chal 
lenged  Ferrand  under  the  walls  of  Santo  Domingo. 

"  O 

Christophe's  division  had  had  to  contend  with  the 
French  and  Spanish  forces,  before  reaching  the  main 
body  of  the  army. 

The  force  of  all  arms  in  the  city  could  not  have 
been  more — if  even  so  many — than  5,000  ;  but  the 
Haytians  Had  no  artillery,  and  could  not  therefore 
contend  with  the  heavy  pieces  of  this  ancient  Span- 


64:  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDKNCE, 

ish  fortification,  whicli  the  besieged  did  not  fail  to 
use  furiously  against  the  besiegers. 

Soon,  however,  great  murmuring  commenced 
against  the  French  General  in  Santo  Domingo,  in 
consequence  of  a  great  want  of  provisions  in  the  city. 
But  help  soon  arrived,  and  Dessalines  hearing  that 
Ferrand  still  expected  more,  called  a  council  of  war, 
in  which  it  was  decided  that  the  assault  on  the  city 
should  be  commenced  on  the  26th  of  March,  which 
indeed  took  place  ;  but  Dessalines,  fearing  that 
French  forces  were  landing  on  other  parts  of  the 
island,  and  despairing  of  success  against  an  artillery 
to  which  he  had  none  to  oppose,  raised  the  siege  and 
withdrew,  laying  everything  in  his  retreat  under  fire 
and  sword. 

Christophe,  as  he  advanced  with  his  retreating 
columns  to  the  north,  set  fire  to  St.  Jago,  it  is  said 
with  his  own  hands,  and  ordered  the  butchery  of 
twenty  priests,  who  were  found  in  the  burying- 
ground  of  the  place. 

The  Haytian  historian  *  also  informs  us  that  this 
General,  during  his  retreat,  took  with  him  349  men, 
430  male  children,  and  318  girls,  who  had  been 
doubtless  captured  wherever  they  could  be  found. 

The  siege  had  continued  some  twenty  days. 

But  the  empire  of  Dessalines — which  had  begun 
on  the  8th  of  October,  1805 — was  destined  to  be 
of  short  duration.  Although  he  had  been  the  most 
daring  friend  of  his  country  against  its  enemies,  dis 
gust  and  impatience  at  his  tyranny  soon  ripened  into 
revolution,  respecting  which  Dessalines  is  said  to 
have  declared  that  the  entire  south — where  in  all 
*T.Madiou(Fils.) 


FROM   HISTORICAL    NOTES.  65 

probability  tins  revolt  against  him  originated — 
should  be  drenched  in  blood,  and  left  a  desert,  where 
not  even  a  cock  should  be  heard  to  crow ! 

On  the  17th  of  October,  1806,  Dessalines  left 
Arcahaie,  where  he  had  arrived  from  Marchand,  his 
favorite  retreat,  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  town  of 
St.  Mark's,  on  his  way  to  Port  an  Prince,  his  object 
being  to  put  down  the  rebellion  against  his  govern 
ment  which  had  just  commenced,  not  doubting  for 
a  moment  of  success. 

Arriving  at  "  Pont  Kouge,"  a  bridge  within  half  a 
mile  of  Port  au  Prince,  and  which  he  reached  about 
9  A.  M.,  on  the  last  mentioned  date,  he  found  him 
self  surrounded  by  a  revolutionary  army,  which  had 
decided  on  his  destruction.  When  the  two  parties 
met,  a  confused  conflict  took  place,  in  which  lie  was 
picked  out  by  one  in  the  opposing  ranks,  and  shot. 

Thus  fell  the  founder  of  Haytian  independence, 
and  it  will  be  for  posterity  to  judge  the  case  of  this 
first  revolution  recorded  in  Haytian  history. 

The  death  of  Dessalines,  just  or  unjust,  was  doubt 
less  brought  on  by  the  despotic  course  which  he  had 
pursued  with  his  own  people,  who,  had  he  only  been 
just,  would  have  made  him  their  idol.  His  very 
looks  are  said  to  have  inspired  terror.  Daring  to  the 
utmost,  he  doubtless  was  the  right  man  to  defy 
France,  and  break  its  iron  yoke. 

After  his  death,  some  cut  off  his  fingers ;  others 
took  the  ornaments  from  his  person ;  such  was  the 
eagerness  to  have  some  relic  of  this  extraordinary  man. 

A  Constitution  had  been  drawn  up  under  Dessa 
lines,  which  was  considered  to  be  suited  to  the  times 
and  circumstances  of  Hayti.  The  main  thing,  or 


60 

rather  the  most  prominent  feature,  in  the  National 
charter  thus  drawn  up,  was  the  article  which  was 
then  justly  deemed  indispensable  to  the  national 
identity  and  independence  of  Hayti,  viz.,  that  the 
whites  should  be  excluded,  as  land  proprietors,  from 
the  territory  of  Hayti — a  measure  only  in  harmony 
with  that  day,  and  can  now  be  viewed  only  as  a 
necessary  evil. 

Exclusiveism  can  never,  indeed,  be  considered  as 
the  order  of  God,  and  hence  can  never  be  perpetua 
ted,  without  ultimately  bringing  on  the  ruinous 
effects  of  stagnation ;  free  moral  currents  must  sweep 
through  all  the  earth,  nor  can  it  be  doubted  that  this 
grand  day  of  safe,  healthy,  and  universal  freedom  is 
coming  on. 

It  is  indeed  to  be  deplored  that  the  internal  storms 
and  conflicts  of  this  small,  but  now  independent 
nation,  did  not  terminate  with  the  political  exectnion 
of  Dessalines.  This,  however,  was  not  the  case.  Yet 
far  greater  difficulties  were  in  the  future.  The  epoch 
now  before  us  seems  to  have  been  a  hinge  upon 
which  the  hopes  of  the  nation  turned.  It  was  indeed 
a  critical  moment.  Nothing,  however,  is  more 
deceptive  than  human  nature.  Peace  might  have 
been  looked  for  even  at  this  critical  juncture  of 
affairs ;  but  so  long  as  it  is  not  a  principle  in  the 
human  heart  to  covet  the  lowest  place,  rather  than  the 
highest,  the  assurance  of  peace  must  remain  shaken. 
The  highest  place  in  this  young  nation,  which  was 
but  just  starting  into  life,  was  even  already  too  much 
adored,  and  there  were  many  who  thought  themselves 
equally  entitled  to  and  capable  of  all  the  power,  dig 
nity,  and  honor  which  this  country  could  offer. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  67 

General  Christophe  was  now  a  prominent  charac 
ter  on  the  stage  of  Haytian  affairs — he  also  having 
been  renowned  for  his  daring  against  the  French. 
Hence,  after  the  death  of  Dessalines,  he  was  named 
by  a  military  council,  not  only  as  commander  of  all 
the  forces,  but  as  the  provisional  chief  of  the  nation. 
This  honor  was  conferred  upon  him  provisionally, 
until  the  National  Assembly  should  be  called.  This 
great  meeting  was  to  be  called  "  L'Assemblee  Con- 
stituante,"  and  was  invested  with  authority  by  the 
same  originating  source  as  clothed  Christoplie  him 
self  with  the  power  and  dignity  which  he  had  receiv 
ed — which  was  doubtless  the  first  Senatorial  body. 

This  great  "  Assemblee  Constuante,"  which  must 
be  considered,  historically,  as  one  of  the  starting 
points  of  free  and  constitutional  government  in 
Hay ti,  took  place  on  the  18th  of  December,  1806, 
in  the  cathedral  church  of  the  capital,  which  at  that 
time  was  Port  an  Prince. 

Christophers  residence  was  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  island,  at  Cape  Haytien.  His  ideas  of  govern 
ment  were  well  known  to  be  in  favor  of  great  powers 
and  prerogatives  confided  to  the  Executive.  In  fact, 
it  is  probable  that  he  had  inherited  from  Toussaint 
L'Ouverture  the  idea  of  a  monarchical  form  of  govern 
ment  ;  for  although  the  latter  is  said  to  have  declined 
a  crown  of  British  offer,  and  under  British  protection, 
yet  it  is  probable  that  if  he  had  remained  in  Hayti,  he 
might  ultimately  have  become  an  independent  mo 
narch — there  having  been  great  reason  to  believe  that 
his  ideas  ran  much  in  this  channel.  On  this  subject, 
Christophers  views  had  been  gathered  from  his  general 
conversations.  But  in  the  West,  where  General  Petion 


68  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

resided,  all  was  enthusiastically  in  favor  of  Republi 
canism.  In  these  two  great  facts — the  difference  of 
political  views  and  principles  between  Petion  and 
Christophe — doubtless  commenced  the  unhappy  divi 
sion  between  the  northern  and  the  western  portions 
of  the  French  part  of  llayti. 

Republican  views  and  feelings,  it  would  appear, 
prevailed  in  the  National  Assembly,  notwithstanding 
the  agents  of  Christophe  were  many,  and  his  power 
and  influence  very  great. 

After  much  warm  and  even  violent  discussion,  a 
constitution  was  finally  drawn  up,  on  the  most  liberal 
principles,  and  Christophe  was  chosen  President  of 
the  Republic  of  llayti,  for  four  years. 

In  this  constitution,  the  articles  excluding  the 
whites  as  land  owners,  was  continued,  and  the  Roman 
Catholic  religion  was  recognized  as  being  that  of  the 
Haytian  nation,  without  any  reference  to  other 
creeds,  in  the  way  of  toleration. 

During  the  framing  of  this  constitution,  one  named 
Juste  Ugonin  is  said  to  have  written  to  Christophe, 
and  to  have  observed  to  him  that  if  he  accepted  it, 
he  would  have  no  more  power  than  a  corporal ! 

On  the  27th  of  December,  1806,  the  final  meeting 
of  "  L'Assemblee  Constituante"  took  place.  All  was 
anxiety ;  and  an  ably  drawn  up  Introduction  to  it 
was  read  by  General  Bonnet,  who  was  a  man  of 
known  ability;  and  this  highly  important  national 
document,  which  had  absorbed  the  attention  of  its 
framers  until  after  sunset,  was  by  them,  amidst  high 
hopes  and  expectations,  signed  by  candle-light. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  it  had  been  proposed 
to  hold  this  important  National  Assembly  at  Cape 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  G9 

Haytien  ;  but  Cliristophe,  having  all  confidence  in 
his  own  power  and  influence,  opposed  the  proposi 
tion,  lest  it  should  afterwards  be  said  that  he  had  in 
any  way  influenced  their  decision  ;  yet  he  never 
scrupled  to  make  it  known  that  if  the  new  Constitu 
tion  should  not  suit  him,  he  would  reject  it.  In  fact, 
his  love  of  rigid  and  oppressive  rule  was  already 
known,  and  even  felt,  as  will  appear  from  the  fact 
that  desertions  from  the  northern  army  to  the  western 
had  already  commenced,  and  were  not  even  uncom 
mon,  which  Cliristophe  hearing  of,  would,  as  coin- 
mander-in-chief  of  the  forces,  send  to  Petion,  at  Port 
au  Prince,  requesting  that  such  men  should  be  sent 
back  to  join  their  regiments  ;  but  his  messages  were 
generally  coolly  received,  and  severe  letters  passed 
between  these  distinguished  Generals  on  the  subject. 
Cliristophe  was  kept  well  informed  of  all  that  was 
passing  at  the  capital ;  and  on  hearing  the  general 
character  and  bearing  of  the  Constitution  just  drawn 
up,  he  unwisely  concluded,  that  being  the  responsi 
ble  President  of  a  Republic,  he  might  at  last,  like 
Dessalines,  fall  under  the  power  of  the  people.  His 
rash  and  final  conclusion,  therefore,  was  to  march  at 
once  upon  Port  au  Prince.  This  decision  formed,  he 
issued  a  proclamation,  in  which  he  accused  Petion 
and  the  Generals  of  the  western  part,  of  having  so 
arranged  matters  with  regard  to  the  framing  of  the 
Constitution,  and  organization  of  the  Republic,  as  to 
have  all  power  in  their  hands,  with  a  view,  ulti 
mately,  to  reduce  the  whole  nation  under  the  yoke 
of  their  own  power,  hence  he  calls  upon  the  people  to 
take  up  arms  in  defence  of  their  liberties,  and  at  the 
same  time  promises  full  and  free  plunder  to  the  army. 


70  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

We  therefore  iind  ourselves  here  at  the  starting 
point*  of  innumerable  evils  for  Hayti.  Christophe 
was  legitimately  at  the  head  of  the  nation  ;  this  was 
fully  and  fairly  recognized  by  all ;  there  was  no  dis 
position  anywhere  to  deprive  him  of  any  honor  that 
was  due  to  him.  l  But  the  plain  fact  seems  to  be  that 
he  had  resolved  to  hold  all  power,  and  to  be  without 
control,  notwithstanding  there  were  many  at  tnattime 
who  were  his  superiors  as  to  mind  and  education. 
Posterity,  therefore,  must  and  will  blame  this  man 
as  a  despot,  both  in  his  principles  and  passions. 
Hayti  as  a  nation  cannot  here  be  blamed.  All  had 
been  well  arranged  ;  in  fact  the  nation  had  in  the 
most  open  and  legitimate  manner  chosen  a  Republi 
can  form  of  government,  and  they  had  accorded  to 
the  right  man  its  highest  honor;  but  he  chose  to  be 
a  despot,  and  rose  in  arms  against  his  own  people  ; 
nor  is  there  anything  here  but  what  was  in  harmony 
with  the  general  history  of  mankind,  however  much 
to  be  deplored. 

On  the  26th  of  December,  1806,  Christophe  was 
at  St.  Mark's,  about  half  way  to  Port  an  Prince  from 
the  Cape,  with  an  army  of  18,000  men, 

Petion  left  Port  an  Prince  on  the  1st  ofLJanuary, 
1807,  with  some  3,000  men.  He  probably  reckoned 
on  increasing  his  army  as  he  proceeded  through  the 
Country  ;  but  arriving  at  a  place  called  Sibert,  which 
was  a  plantation,  these  opposing  armies  met,  and  a 
contest  fierce  and  terrible  commenced,  between  men 
and  brothers,  wyho  not  long  since  had  been  firmly 
united  against  their  common  foe. 

Petion  was  entirely  routed,  his  General's  hat  ren 
dering  him  a  mark  at  which  the  enemy  had  already 


FROM  HISTORICAL  NOTES.  71 

eagerly  aimed.  A  young  officer  named  Jerome 
Coutilien  Coutard,  snatched  it  from  Petion's  head, 
and  putting  it  on  himself,,  saved  his  General,  who  had 
seriously  began  to  think  of  committing  suicide,  under 
the  impression  that  he  was  about  to  be  taken  prison 
er.  The  young  officer,  however,  fell  a  victim  to  his 
noble  feelings  of  devotion,  while  Petion,  with  one  or 
two  more,  escaped,  and  reaching  the  sea  shore,  a 
canoe  which  was  standing  off  came  at  his  call,  and 
took  him  from  the  Arcahaic  side  of  the  great  bay  of 
Port  an  Prince,  to  the  opposite  side,  within  a  few 
miles  of  the  capital,  where  his  fate  was  not  yet 
known.  Some  feared  he  had  been  killed,  while 
others  feared  he  had  been  taken  prisoner. 

In  the  mean  time,  Petion's  army  had  collected  at 
Port  au  Prince,  having  been  hotly  pursued  by  Chris- 
tophe,  so  that  the  battle  now  raged  outside  of  Port 
au  Prince.  General  Yayou  had  taken  (provisionally) 
Petion's  place,  and  maintaining  his  ground,  had  kept 
off  the  enemy  during  the  whole  of  that  day  ;  but  the 
next  day  Petion  himself  appeared,  and  was  received 
with  great  joy  and  enthusiasm  as  their  beloved 
head. 

The  struggle  between  Christophe  and  the  Republi 
cans  was  great,  but  all  turned  and  was  decided  in 
favor  of  the  latter.  Even  women  and  children  are 
said  to  have  helped,  from  sheer  dread  of  the  name  of 
Christophe,  so  entirely  was  this  man's  name  associa 
ted  with  the  idea  of  horror. 

This  great  contest  commenced  at  3  A.  M.,  on  the 
6th  of  January,  1807  ;  and  on  the  8th,  the  arms  of 
Christophe  having  totally  failed,  wrere  on  their  way 
back  to  the  north,  leaving  the  Republicans  in  posses- 


2  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

sion  of  their  capital,  their  constitution,  and  their 
liberty. 

At  an  early  period  in  Haytian  history,  a  military 
chief  named  Goman,  in  the  South,  occupied  an 
important  position,  and  occasioned  much  anxiety  and 
trouble  to  the  legitimate  rulers  of  this  Republic. 
But  the  details  of  this  matter  would  be  impossible ; 
for  the  present  it  must  suffice  simply  to  mention  the 
fact  of  such  a  case,  and  refer  for  the  details  to  the 
larger  histories  of  Hayti. 

Here,  then,  we  come  to  the  complete,  and  for  the 
present  final  division  of  this  small,  and  but  lately 
self-liberated  nation — a  separation  which  was  evi 
dently  occasioned  by  the  determination  of  one  man 
to  subdue  a  nation  to  his  own  views  of  government. 
No  unknown  rock,  this,  of  pride  and  vanity,  but  one 
on  which  many  of  the  mightiest  of  the  earth  have 
dashed  themselves  to  pieces. 

Christophe  not  unnaturally  thought  that  his  adver 
sary,  Petion,  would  have  pursued  him.  This,  how 
ever,  was  not  the  case ;  and  for  this  the  conquering 
General  was  severely  reproved  by  General  Gerin, 
who  declared  that  had  Petion  appeared  in  the  North 
at  that  moment,  the  people  would  certainly  have 
joined  the  arms  of  the  Republic.  But  Petion's 
opinion  was,  that  Christophers  ferocity  would  soon 
ruin  him,  and  that  any  further  effusion  of  blood  was 
needless.  Christophe,  left  thus  to  himself,  re-took 
Arcahaic,  by  a  division  under  General  Larose.  .  The 
people  of  this  place  were  well  known  to  be  altogether 
Republican  in  their  preferences,  and  therefore  by 
this  monarchical  General  they  were  given  up  to  be 
pillaged,  and  several  among  the  most  prominent  of 


FKOM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  73 

this  village  were  sent  on  to  Marchand,  where  Chris- 
toplie  had  halted  with  his  troops,  and  were  there 
executed  by  his  orders. 

Cliristophe,  intending  to  make  his  seat  of  Govern 
ment  at  Cape  Haytien,  transported  all  the  wealth 
which  Dessalines  had  amassed  to  his  intended  capital, 
from  whence  he  issued  an  address  to  the  inhabitants 
of  the  North,  in  which  he  promises  liberty,  warns 
the  enemies  of  his  cause,  and  urges  the  people  to  give 
themselves  fully  to  industry  of  every  kind. 

At  Port  au  Prince,  the  Senate  had  assembled,  and 
appointed  General  Petion  to  the  maintenance  of  order 
in  the  Western  Departments ;  General  Germ  being 
at  the  same  time,  and  by  the  same  authority,  charged 
with  the  command  of  the  South. 

Several  of  the  representatives  from  the  North, 
having  voted  in  "  L'Assemblee  Constituante"  for  the 
Republic,  could  not  consequently  return  to  their 
homes ;  and  beins;  therefore  involved  in  loss  and 

*  O 

difficulty,  their  cases  were  taken  into  consideration 
by  the  Senate,  and  suitable  provision  was  made  for 
them,  while  at  the  same  time  Cliristophe  was  decla 
red  to  be  entirely  outlawed,  and  the  Constitution 
which  he  had  rejected  was  adopted,  and  proclaimed 
with  all  due  solemnity.  This  important  and  memo 
rable  event  took  place  on  the  27th  of  Dec.,  1806. 
The  power  of  the  Senate  thus  established, -they  at 
once  sent  a  military  force,  under  command  of  Petion, 
to  re-take  Arcahaie  for  the  Republic,  for  which  it 
was  w^ell  known  that  place  was  inclined.  This  under 
taking  was  successful ;  and  many  of  the  Northern 
troops,  who  had  been  taken  prisoners  on  this  occa 
sion,  became  citizens  of  the  Republic.  But  Petioii 


74  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

hearing  of  a  revolt  in  the  Southern  part  of  the 
Island,  deemed  it  prudent  to  return  promptly  to 
Port  au  Prince  j  notwithstanding  the  army  demanded 
to  be  led  on  from  Ascahaie  to  St.  Mark's,  which  he 
considered  would  simply  involve  the  shedding  of 
blood  uselessly,  and  therefore  persisted  in  his  purpose 
to  return  to  the  capital.  Petion,  however,  did  attempt 
to  win  over  Christophers  principal  General,  Larose, 
by  addressing  him  a  letter,  but  the  Northern  General 
tore  it  up  without  even  reading  it. 

Petion  being  now  returned  to  Port  au  Prince,  the 
Senate  sent  a  strong  force  to  subdue  the  revolt  in  the 
South,  and  to  re-establish  order  there ;  after  which 
this  legislative  body  proceeded  to  the  regulation  of 
the  general  finances  of  the  State,  on  which  subject 
General  Bonnet  read  to  the  Senate  a  long  and  able 
address. 

During  this  time,  Christophe  sent  back  a  military 
force  to  Arcahaie,  the  only  object  of  which  was  to 
entirely  destroy  that  place.  The  inhabitants  fled  to 
the  woods,  but  were  pursued  by  a  furious  soldiery, 
whose  orders  were  nothing  less  than  extermination.* 

These  unhappy  people  had  fallen  victims  to  the 
fury  of  Christophe,  simply  because  they  were  well 
known  to  be  sincerely  attached  to  the  Republic. 
General  Germ  and  his  party,  in  this  case  also, 
reproached  Petion  for  having  suffered  this  massacre 
to  take  place,  while  he  had  10,000  men  at  his  dispo 
sal  ;  nor  indeed  is  it  easy  to  understand  such  a  seem 
ing  neglect. 

Christophe  now  began  to  organize  his  affairs,  and 
a  Constitution  promptly  appeared^  in  which  Havti  is 

*  Madiou. 


FROM    HISTORICAL    NOTES.  75 

declared  to  be  a  State,  with  a  President  at  the  head. 
This  Constitution  was  inaugurated  with  great  pomp 
and  ceremony  ;  and  General  Christophe,  who  was 
now  Chief  Magistrate  of  the  new  State,  attended  the 
"  Te  Deum  "  which  was  sung  in  the  Church  at  Cape 
Haytien,  at  the  close  of  which  the  new  functionary* 
received  the  most  flattering  -felicitations  of  the  peo 
ple  at  large,  and  especially  of  his  Generals. 

It  is  indeed  remarkable  that  a  man  whose  fierce 
and  unfeeling  character  had  already  manifested  itself, 
should  have  become  so  popular  ;  but  lie  was  known 
to  have  enlarged  views  of  things,  hence,  with  all  his 
defects,  he  was  at  that  time  considered  an  extraordi 
nary  man  ;  and  what  ultimately  in  him  degenerated 
into  ferocity,  was  in  the  commencement  of  his  career 
great  and  unusual  energy. 

On  the  25th  of  February,  1807,  Christophe's  Coun 
cil  declared  its  power  and  authority  over  the  entire 
Island,  not  only  in  opposition  to  the  "West,  but  in 
defiance  of  Spain  and  France.  The  same  was  done 
by  Petion  and  his  Republic,  in  the  West;  while 
General  Ferrand,  in  the  name  of  France,  at  Santo 
Domingo,  in  the  East,  declared  his  power  over  all 
Hayti.  Here,  then,  were  three  claimants  for  this 
Island,  and  each  one  pretending  to  unlimited  power. 
These,  however,  were  mere  declarations ;  for  although 
they  each  led  to  their  separate  consequences  ulti 
mately,  yet  for  a  moment  all  were  anxious  for  a 
pause.  Breathing  time  from  past  exhaustion  was 
now  needed  by  all  parties ;  and  by  the  time  the 
needed  pause  had  ceased,  views,  feelings,  and  circum 
stances  underwent  important  changes. 

Christophe,  during  1807,  established  regulations, 


76 

the  object  of  which  was  the  promotion  of  morality 
in  the  State.  One  was,  that  public  functionaries, 
military  and  civil,  including  public  schools,  should 
be  expected  to  attend  public  worship.  Another  was5 
such  laws  on  inheritance  by  legitimate  children  only, 
as  should  cover  the  issues  of  concubinage,  adultery, 
and  incest,  with  shame  and  disgrace.  Such  regula 
tions  must  indeed  have  been  keenly  felt  by  a  popula 
tion,  the  vast  majority  of*  which  must  have  been  at 
that  time  out  of  the  pale  of  honorable  marriage,  and 
tends  to  show  the  fearful  evils  which  must  have  been 
entailed  upon  that  generation  by  slavery. 

In  the  meantime,  the  Republicans  in  the  West  pro 
ceeded  to  organize  their  now- fairly  started  Republic, 
A  more  definite  Executive  was  necessary,  and  the  two 
principal  candidates,  it  would  appear,  were  Generals 
Gerin  and  Petion.  The  former,  it  would  seem,  was 
so  certain  of  his  election,  as  history  informs  us,*  that 
lie  actually  ordered  and  directed  the  making  of  his 
official  coat !  It  turned  out,  however,  that  the  votes 
were  very  decidedly  in  favor  of  Alexander  Petion, 
who,  on  the  9th  of  March,  1807,  became  the  first 
President  of  the  newly-formed  Republic  of  Hayti, 
then  confined  to  the  Western  part  of  the  Island. 

On  the  10th — the  following  day — General  Petion 
appeared  before  the  Senate  ;  the  Senators  receiving 
him  sitting,  with  their  hats  on.  The  General  at  that 
time  was  suffering  from  rheumatism,  and  was  there 
fore  leaning  on  crutches.  Receiving  the  newly-elected 
President  thus  covered,  was  indeed  significant,  and 
seemed  strongly  to  indicate  that  they  considered  the 
Executive  to  be  the  servant,  not  the  master,  of  the 

people. 

*T.  Madiou  (Fils.) 


FROM  HISTORICAL  KOTES*  ?T 

Uncovered  before  the  Senate,  President  Petion 
took  the  following  oath  of  fidelity  to  the  Constitu 
tion,  which  had  been  accepted  by  the  people,  who 
were  understood  to  be  represented  by  the  Senatorial 
body  :-— 

"  I  swear  faithfully  to  fulfil  the  office  of  President  of  Hayti, 
and  to  maintain,  to  the  utmost  of  my  power,  the  Constitution* 

u  May  those  arms  confided  to  the  people  for  the  defence  of 
liberty,  be  pointed  to  my  breast,  if  ever  I  conceive  the  auda 
cious  and  infamous  project  of  violating  their  rights ;  or  if  ever 
I  forget  that  it  is  after  having  punished  with  death  a  tyrant^ 
whose  existence  was  an  insult  to  the  nation,  and  after  having 
aided  to  proscribe  another,  whose  ambition  has  lighted  up  civil 
war  among  us,  that  I  now  find  myself  President  of  Hayti." 

Certainly  it  must  be  admitted  that,  on  all  sides, 
true  republicanism  is  here  fully  recognized,  and  is 
yet  more  completely  sustained  by  the  following 
statement,  that,  at  the  invitation  of  the  presiding  Sena 
tor,  the  now  accepted  President  took  his  seat  on  his 
right  hand,  while  the  band  immediately  struck  up — 

"  On  pent  on  etre  mieux, 
Q'au  sein  de  sa  famille  ?"  * 

Joy  beamed  in  every  countenance,  both  among1 
foreigners  and  natives,  and  the  speeches  of  the  Chair 
man,  the  Senate,  and  also  of  the  President  of 
Haytij  were  ordered  to  be  printed. 

"With  the  great  majority  of  the  Republicans,  the 
choice  of  Petion  was  decidedly  popular.  There  was, 
however,  one  whose  influence  was  considerable,  and 
whose  mortification  at  the  loss  of  the  great  honor  of 
presiding  over  the  Republic,  was  the  more  deeply 

*  Where  can  one  happier  be, 
Than  in  one's  family  ? 


78  HA.YTUN   INDEPENDENCE, 

felt,  because  of  his  entire  confidence  that  lie  would 
have  obtained  it  himself. 

Few,  perhaps,  had  ever  felt  greater  assurance  in 
their  expectation  of  such  an  honor,  than  had  General 
Gerin  and  his  party  ;  nor  could  anything  be  more  de 
plorable  than  the  fact  that  jealousy,  with  its  many 
evils,  should  have  been  the  result  with  the  losing  side 
in  this  affair,  which  ultimately  developed  itself  in  the 
form  of  a  conspiracy.  All,  however,  was  useless. 
Petion  was  the  man  of  the  people,  and  it  was  want 
of  dignity  of  spirit  in  this  case  to  oppose  him. 

The  following  is  a  comparison  made  by  a  Ilaytian 
historian,  between  the  Constitution  of  the  Republic 
in  the  west,  and  that  of  the  "  State  "  in  the  North  :* 

In  that  of  the  "  State,"  the  Chief  Magistrate  commands  all 
the  forces,  naval  and  military,  and  also  could  name  a  successor, 
but  only  among  the  generals  of  the  army. 

In  the  Republic,  of  that  day,  the  President  at  the  head  was 
under  the  control  of  the  Senate. 

The  President  of  the  "  State"  was  for  life. 

The  President  of  the  Eepublic  was  for  four  years. 

In  the  "  State,"  the  Legislative  Council  was  confided  to  a 
Council  of  State. 

In  the  Republic,  this  was  confided  to  a  Senate  chosen  by  tlie 
people. 

In  the  "State,"  the  President  nominated  to  all  offices  and 
honors. 

In  the  Republic,  this  was  done  by  the  people,  through  the 
Senate. 

A  wide  field  of  discussion  as  to  the  merits  of  the 

two  Constitutions,  is  indeed  open.     It  is,  howrever, 

worthy  of  note,  that  the  handling  of  such  subjects, 

in  such  a  manner,  is  strongly  indicative  of  an  ad- 

*T.  Madiou. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  79 

vanced  intelligence,  at  least   on  the  part   of  those 
concerned. 

That  the  masses  of  Hayti  were  at  this  time  really 
prepared  for  the  unbounded  freedom  of  a  genuine 
Eepublic,  cannot  for  a  moment  be  supposed.  The 
reins  of  power  held  by  one  leading  mind,  of  good 
faith,  and  of  thoroughly  patriotic  feelings,  might 
probably,  have  been  better.  If,  however,  the  neces 
sity  of  good  faith  is  to  be  admitted  in  one  case,  it 
must  be  in  the  other ;  and  hence  we  are  driven  to 
the  conclusion  that  where  righteous  principle  and 
feeling  reign,  the  form  of  government  is  but  of 
secondary  importance.  Justice  and  good  faith  in 
any  administration,  will  secure  the  public  weal. 
Time  and  experience,  however,  have  shown  in  Hayti 
itself  that  the  abuse  of  any  form  of  government, 
although  good  in  itself  as  to  theory,  must  and  .does 
lead  to  confusion  and  unhappiness. 

On  the  12th  of  March,  President  Petion  was  allow 
ed  by  the  Senate  to  nominate  all  his  civil  and  mili 
tary  officers — reserving  to  itself  the  power  of  refusal 
or  change. 

On  the  same  day  was  proposed  the  law  relating  to 
the  administration.  The  document  drawing  up  this 
great  measure  was  an  able  production,  by  the  justly 
celebrated  General  Bonnet,  who  evidently  was  a  man 
of  very  comprehensive  mind  and  views,  as  may 
appear  from  the  fact  that,  with  but  few  modifications, 
the  same  general  law  has  been  in  force  ever  since, 
notwithstanding  all  the  revolutions  and  changes 
which  have  subsequently  taken  place. 

The  first  and  vital  point  relating  to  the  tenure  of 
landed  property,  which,  at  such  a  time,  and  under 


80  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

sucli  peculiar  and  trying  circumstances,  must  have 
been  singularly  intricate  and  difficult,  appears  to  have 
been  ably  settled,  as  may  be  seen  fully  detailed  in 
the  pages  of  the  historian  already  so  often  named  ;* 
and  affords  another  amongst  many  other  proofs  in 
the  history  of  this  country,  that  European  education 
lias  furnished  leacting  and  able  minds  for  the  manage 
ment  and  direction  of  national  interests  and  circum 
stances,  which  even  in  general  history  will  appear  as 
of  no  ordinary  character. 

About  this  time  it  was  decreed  by  the  Senate  that, 
in  case  of  a  siege,  the  Senators  should  appear  on  the 
ramparts  of  the  city  in  full  costume,f  to  encourage 
the  energies  and  activity  of  the  people.  At  the  same 
time,  all  who  had  submitted  to  the  authority  of 
Christophe,  were  declared  to  be  rebels  against  the 
Republic.  The  case,  however,  of  those  who  were 
living  on  the  frontiers,  and  who  by  fidelity  to  the 
Republic  had  lost  all  their  property,  was  considered  ; 
such  in  many  cases  having  been  driven  from  their 
homes,  it  was  decided  that  gifts  of  land  should  be 
made  to  them,  in  compensation  for  their  losses. 

About  this  time  also,  Boyer  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  colonel,  and  attached  to  the  staff  of  the  Pre 
sident. 

^In  the  meantime,  Christophe  was  not  inactive.  It 
is,  however,  to  be  deplored  that  even  at  this  early 
period  of  his  power,  notwithstanding  many  wise  and 
good  measures,  symptoms  of  severity,  and  even 

*  T.  Macliou. 

f  To  this  day  the  Senators,  and  also  the  Representatives  of  the 
people,  wear  a  uniform,  consisting  of  a  bine  coat,  with  yellow 
buttons,  a  cocked  hat.  and  sword.  The  Judges  wear  cocked  hats, 
black  coats,  and  swords.  The  real  simplicity  of  Republicanism 
has  yet  to  be  learned  in  Hayti. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  81 

tyranny,  began  to  appear  in  his  general  proceedings. 
His  institutions  were  in  may  respects  good,  and  upon 
the  whole  adapted  to  the  character  and  circumstan 
ces  of  the  people ;  but  he  did  not  conform  to  them 
himself;  and  it  is  complained  of  him  tha-t  the  labor 
ing  classes,  under  his  power,  were  more  in  the  posi 
tion  of  serfs  than  otherwise.  It  is  not,  therefore, 
surprising  to  learn  that  a  rising  against  Christophe 
took  place  at  Port  de  Paix,  where  the  Republic  under 
Petion  was  decidedly  preferred. 

An  officer  in  Christophe's  army,  named  Rebecca,* 
having  been  reduced  to  the  ranks,  under  the  influ 
ence  of  revengeful  feelings,  availed  himself  of  what 
he  knew  to  be  the  dominant  preference  of  |he  people 
of  Port  de  Paix  and  its  neighborhood  for  republican 
ism,  and  raised  the  standard  of  revolt;  but  notwith 
standing  all  his  reasonings  on  the  tyranny  of  their 
Chief,  he  failed  to  win  over  to  his  own  side  Christo- 
phe's  officers.  ^ 

One  very  singular  and  even  extraordinary  feature 
in  this  rising  was,  that  none  sought  posts  of  honor  "or 
emolument.  Rebecca,  it  is  said,  commanded  in  this 
affair  simply  as  a  grenadier  private ;  and  the  same 
simplicity  appears  to  have  been  manifested  by  all 
who  had  attached  themselves  to  him :  a  rare  but 
interesting  exception  to  the  general  rule  in  such 
cases,  both  in  Hayti  and  elsewhere.  This  man,  how 
ever,  persisted,  and  succeeded  in  raising  the  whole 
population  of  that  neighborhood  against  Christophe. 

After  taking  Port  de  Paix,  Rebecca  learned  that 
Christophe  was  near  at  hand  on  one  side  with  his 

*  It  is  singular  that  the  name  of  a  woman  shoiThl  be  borne  by  a 
man  ;  this,  however,  is  still  to  be  found  in  the  Haytian  army. 


82  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

troops,  while  one  of  his  generals,  named  Romain, 
was  approaching  with  his  forces  on  the  other  side ; 
but  strange  to  say,  Rebecca's  men  had  so  abandoned 
themselves  to  pillaging  the  town,  that  as  the  only 
means  of  gathering  them,  he  set  fire  to  the  place, 
and  even  then  he  could  only  muster  some  forty  of 
them.  Instead  of  flying,  however,  notwithstanding 
great  odds,  he  attempted  battle  with  Christophers 
superior  forces;  and,  falling  wounded,  was  taken 
alive  and  brought  before  General  Remain,  who 
inquired  of  him  why  he  had  taken  up  arms  against 
Christophe.  "  Because,"  said  he,  "  I  consider  him 
to  be  a  tyrant,  who,  in  the  name  of  liberty,  is  re-es 
tablishing  slavery  ;  and  1  consider  you,  General 
Romain,  as  the  vile  instrument  of  a  monster  !"  At  this 
the  General  became  furious,  and  asked  him  what  he 
meant,  and  what  he  wanted.  "Rebecca's  reply  was, 
"  Death  !"  upon  which  his  head  was  immediately 
severed  from  his  body,  and  carried  to  Christophe, 
who  ordered  that  it  should  be  put  upon  a  pole,  and 
placed  before  his  army. 

The  Senate  at  Port  au  Prince  had  raised  Rebecca 
to  the  rank  of  Colonel,  but  his  death  occurred  before 
the  brevet  reached  him.  The  Senate,  however,  on 
hearing  that  he  had  fallen  a  victim  to  his  love  of 
liberty,  yoted  a  pension  to  his  widow,  and  one  also 
to  his  bereaved  mother. 

President  Petion,  without  loss  of  time,  issued  a 
proclamation,  calling  upon  the  people  for  military 
aid,  and  at  the  same  time  commenced  collecting  a 
land  and  naval  force,  with  the  design  of  attacking 
Christophe  at  various  points ;  but  the  base  and 
unhappy  thirst  for  plunder  on  the  part  of  Rebecea'a 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  83 

men,  had  already   ruined  their   cause.     Had  they 
remained  honest  and  united,  they  would  doubtless  «*"c 
have  been  able  to  present  a  bold  front;  at  least  the^r 
might  have  held  out  until  the  republican  forces  frouy 
Port  au  Prince  had  arrived,  when  in  all  probability, 
the   power   of   Christophe   might  -  have  received   a 
severe  blow,  and  possibly  might  have  been  entirely 
broken  up.     This,  however,  was  not  the  case,  and 
the  unhappy  people  who  had  revoltedj^ere  compelled 
to  fly  to  the  woods  and  mountains  ;  but  Christophe, 
acting  both  humanely  and  with  good  policy  in   this 
case,  sent  some  of  his  men  into  the  woods,  to  endea 
vor  to  win  over  the  insurgents.     In  this,  however,  he 
i'ailed  ;  for  the  very  name  of  Christophe,  and  the  bare 
sight  of  his  men,  filled  them    with   terror,   and  the 
wretched  people  therefore  persisted  in  their  flight. 

Christophe's  troops  continued  their  course  untL 
they  reached  the  Mole,  which  is  the  western  extrem 
ity  of  the  Island  on  the  north  side,  where  it  would 
appear  that  many  women  and  children  had  taken 
refuge ;  but  the  historian  of  Ilayti  informs  us  that 
on  the  approach  of  Christophe's  army,  many  of  the 
unhappy  mothers  who  had  fled  here  for  safety,  pre 
ferred  throwing  themselves  into  the  sea,  to  fallino- 
into  the  hands  of  the  northern  despot.* 

The  forces  of  the  Republic  being  now  organized, 
General  Bazelais  was  sent,  with  a  naval  armament 
under  his  command,  and  with  orders  to  take  St. 
Mark's ;  or,  if  that  was  impossible,  to  proceed  to 
Port  de  Paix.  Bazelais,  on  reaching  St.  Mark's, 

*  The  details  of  the  whole  of  this  affair  were  related  to  the  his 
torian  Madiou  by  General  Alaire,  who  commanded  Port  de  Paix  at 
the  time  of  Rebecca's  revolt. 


84:  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

v  / 

found  it  so  prepared  for  an  attack,  that  he  decided  to 
continue  on  to  Port  de  Paix.  Here  he  entirely  suc 
ceeded  ;  and  soon  also  took  Gonaives. 

During  the  interval  of  preparation  at  Port  au 
Prince  for  the  defence  of  Port  de  Paix,  Colonel  Nico- 
;las  Louis,  of  the  latter  place,  who  was  an  ardent 
friend  of  the  Republic,  hearing  of  the  decision  of  the 
Senate  with  regard  to  the  rising  at  Port  de  Paix,  and 
being  tlms  encouraged  with  the  expectation  of  the 
speedy  arrival  of  Petion's  forces,  entered  the  Fort  of 
that  place  with  a  few  men  during  the  night,  Christo- 
phe's  party  having  neglected  to  place  a  garrison 
there  ;  the  surprise,  therefore,  of  the  northern  soldiers 
was  great,  on  hearing  the  4  o'clock  drum  the  next 
morning  from  the  Fort. 

At  daylight,  Colonel  N.  Louis  mounted  the  wall 
of  the  Fort  himself,  and  calling  to  General  Romain, 
told  him  that  he  begged  to  hand  him  a  proclamation 
from  President  Petion,  at  Port  au  Prince  ;  to  which 
Romain  very  significantly  replied,  "  I  am  just  getting 
ready  to  come  and  take  it !"  and  immediately  moved 
forward  with  a  couple  of  columns,  to  take  both  the 
Fort  and  the  proclamation.  In  this,  however,  he 
failed.  Three  violent  and  fierce  attacks  were  made, 
and  even  a  fourth,  in  which  he  not  only  failed,  but 
was  wounded,  and  returned  to  the  Cape,  pursued  by 
Nicolas  and  his  few  men  for  a  considerable  distance. 

By  this,  time,  great  manifestations  of  feeling 
appeared  against  Christophe,  in  the  plains  of  the 
Artibonite.* 

*  A  beautiful  and  extensive  level  country,  through  which  a  river 
of  that  name  meanders,  in  what  is  called  the  northern  part  of  the 
Island. 


FBOM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  85. 

V 

In  fact  it  is  easy  to  understand  th^t  the  contrast 
between  the  two  States  must  have  been  great ;  and 
in  the  nature  of  things,  the  working  of  a  free  system 
by  the  side  of  real  despotism  must  have  told  powerfully 
upon  the  latter.  In  the  one  reigned  a  freedom  which' 
could  not  string  up  the  energies  of  an  uneducated 
people  to  a  sufficiently  high  tone  of  industry ;  and 
in  the  other,  a  discipline  which  amounted  to  oppres- 
sion,  was  becoming  gradually  insupportable  to  an 
untrained,  uncultivated,  and  but  recently  liberated 
mass.  Christophers  system,  therefore,  rapidly  ripen 
ed,  rotted,  and  fell. 

On  the  26th  of  May,  Petion  left  the  capital  for  the 
North,  and  on  the  28th  and  29th  was  himself  engaged 
in  bloody  conflict  with  Christophers  troops ;  nor  had 
he  much  repose  until  the  10th  of  June  following, 
when  the  Republican  Generals  Bazelais,  Lamarre, 
and  Lanoix,  were  driven  from  Gonaives  by  the  north 
ern  forces,  and  even  narrowly  escaped  with  their 
lives. 

Petion,  who  about  this  time  was  in  the  neighbor 
hood  of  St.  Mark's,  recognized  his  own  fleet  off  that 
port  by  which  he  knew  that  the  Republican  army 
had  been  compelled  to  retreat ;  and  inferring  from 
what  he  knew  must  have  happened,  that  Christophe's 
whole  force  would  therefore  soon  be  upon  him,  with 
his  comparatively  weak  numbers,  he  immediately 
decided  on  returning  to  Port  au  Prince.  On  his 
arrival  however  at  the  capital,  he  found  that  intrigues 
had  been  carried  on  in  his  absence  against  General 
Yayou,  who  had  been  left  in  command  ;  but  the 
presence  of  the  President  soon  made  all  right. 

But  the  inhabitants  of  Port  de   Paix,  who  had 


86  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

shown  such  attachment  to  the  Republic,  could  not  be 
abandoned,  Petion,  therefore,  promptly  organized 
another  expedition  for  the  north,  and  confided  the 
command  to  General  Lamarre,  who  was  instructed 
to  hasten  to  the  succour  of  Port  de  Paix. 

Lamarre  set  sail  with  800  men  ;  and  the  Senate 
having  addressed  the  people  on  the  necessity  of  flying 
to  the  help  of  their  brother  Republicans  in  the  North, 
their  number  was  soon  augmented. 

In  the  meantime,  Christoplie  himself  reached 
Gonaives,  and  from  thence,  on  the  20th  of  June, 
arrived  at  Cape  Haytien,  where  he  was  received  by 
the  most  enthusiastic  welcome  of  the  people. 

Having  now  a  few  days  rest,  the  Chief  of  the 
Northern  State  set  to  work  about  commercial  arrange 
ments,  and  the  formation  of  other  laws  which  were 
needed  for  the  general  welfare  and  prosperity  of  the 
nation. 

Meantime,  Colonel  N.  Louis  was  still  contending 
with  Christophe's  army,  when  on  the  2d  of  July, 
General  Lamarre  announced  to  him  his  own  arrival, 
with  Colonels  Gardel,  "Weillard,  and  Adjutant  Gen 
eral  Delva ;  011  the  same  evening  of  their  arrival, 
they  commenced  their  march  to  join  Nicolas  Louis, 
and  came  up  with  him  at  a  place  called  Moustiques. 

The  united  forces  of  the  Republicans  amounted  to 
about  2,000  men.  This,  however,  was  a  long  and 
tedious  struggle,  and  lasted  from  1807  until  1810, 
when  Lamarre  died,  and  Christoplie  became  master 
of  the  Mole. 

History  informs  us  that  on  one  occasion  of  great 
peril,  Soulo<,jue*  stood  faithfully  by  the  side  of 
Lamarre. 

*  Who  subsequently  became  Emperor  of  Hayti. 


FROM    HISTORICAL    NOTES.  87 

During  all  this  struggle,  Goman,  in  the  South,  dis 
turbed  the  public  peace,  and  both  himself  and  party 
declared  themselves  in  favor  of  Christophe. 

In  1810,  Rigaud  arrived  in  Hayti,  and  finding  a 
party,  under  Gerin,  ready  for  revolt  against  Petion, 
he  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  it ;  the  following 
year,  however,  he  died,  and  the  Republic  gradually 
gained  strength. 

General  Borgella,  whose  name  is  celebrated  in 
Ilaytian  history,  as  a  brave  and  honest  man,  was 
elected  as  Rigaud's  successor  in  the  Government  of 
the  South.  He,  however,  ultimately  sent  in  his  adhe 
sion  to  the  Western  Republic. 

During  this  year,  Petion  was  re-elected  for  four 
years  as  President  of  Hay ti ;  nor  can  there  be  any 
doubt  that  this  distinguished  individual,  notwith 
standing  a  seeming  want  of  energy,  which  was  felt 
throughout  his  administration,  was  worthy  of  the 
high  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  his  country 
men  ;  for  whatever  may  have  been  his  errors,  he  was 
honest  and  brave,  having  enlarged  and  liberal  views 
of  government. 

On  the  2d  of  June,  1811,  Chistophe  became  king, 
under  the  title  of  Henry  L,  and  surrounded  himself 
by  a  privileged  nobility  of  princes,  dukes,  barons,  etc., 
who  assisted  him  in  carrying  out  his  own  harsh 
views  of  government,  and  compelling  activity  and 
industry  by  an  insupportable  oppression,  which  ulti 
mately  lost  everything  they  aimed  at ;  it  must,  how 
ever,  be  admitted  that  an  amazing  amount  of  indus 
try  was  thus  wrenched  from  the  people,  by  mere 
terror  of  their  Chief. 

It  is  indeed  to  be  lamented  that  less  than  half  the 


88  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

Island  should  have  been  thus  divided  into  two  small 
nations,  and  especially  that  they  should  so  repeatedly 
have  been  brought  into  fierce  and  deadly  conflict  with 
each  other,  whatever  may  have  been  the  motive  of 

^either  party.  Such,  however,  is  human  nature,  for 
our  business  here  is  not  so  much  to  judge  of  motives, 
as  of  facts  and  principles,,  with  their  tendencies,  as 
shown  by  the  light  of  history. 

Independence,  which  is  the  element  and  dignity  of 
any  distinct  branch  of  the  human  race,  is  frequently 
s  only  gained  at  an  awful  cost ;  yet  it  is  this  cost, 
in  the  form,  of  daring  feats  of  valor,  and  triumphant 
struggles  with  mightier  foes,  which  constitute  the 
glory-so  boldly  sought,  "  even  at  the  cannon's  mouth." 
Nor  can  we  refuse  to  any  nation  which  has  victori- 
-x  ously  passed  through  the  dreadful  ordeal  of  arms  and 
blood,  a  fair -amount  of  dignity — whatever  may  be 
the  opinion  as  to  military  systems,  or  even  as  to  the 
use  of  arms  at  all. 

-  In  1810,  this  comparatively  small  territory,  of  less 
than  500  miles  in  length,  and  of  less  than  200  miles 
in  breadth,  was  divided  into  not  less  than  four  differ 
ent  governments.  The  Spaniards  in  the  east,  Cliris- 

*  tophe  in  the  north,  Rigaud  in  the  south,  and  Petion 
in  the  west.  Christophe's  regal  sceptre,  to  all  hu 
man  appearance,  at  one  time  seemed  to  be  held  by  a 
firm  hand.  His  capital  was  Cape  Haytien,  which 
at  that  time  was,  notwithstanding  many  ruins  from 
fire  and  war,  rather  a  handsome  little  city ;  but  the 
favorite  retreat  of  the  newly-made  king,  in  the  north 
of  llayti,  was  his  palace  at  u  Sans  Louci,"*  a  few 
miles  only  from  the  city  of  the  Cape. 

*  "  Free  from  care  !"     A  name  certainly  very  far  from  true  in 
this  case. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  89 

Cape  Haytien  is  described  by  an  English  traveler, 
who  visited  it  in  1809,  as  a  beautiful  city,  and  as 
being  a  most  agreeable  residence  as  to  climate,  etc.f 

With  regard  to  the  governmeut  of  Christophe,  it 
must  be  admitted  that  there  was  much  that  was  good 
in  it,  and  that  he  really  did  raise  his  kingdom  to  a 
high  degree  of  industry  and  wealth ;  it  must,  how 
ever,  be  remembered  that  the  system  in  operation  foy 
the  accomplishment  of  this,  was  such  as  to  render  its 
overthrow  inevitable.  The  white  colonists  before*" 
him,  whom  he  had  so  powerfully  aided  to  drive  out, 
had  also  succeeded  in  winding  up-the  Colony  to 'a 
high  pitch  of  energy  and  wealth,  by  sheer  brutality. 

Some  have  indeed  said  that  Christophe  erred  an 
the  right  side  ;>but  how  can  that  course  be^  in  any 
sense  right,  which  at  last  plunges  the  man  who  pui> 
sues  it,  with  all  who  are  dependent  upon  him,  into 
utter  wretchedness  and  ruin?  All,  therefore,  that 
was  good  in  the  system  of  Cliristophe,  was  neutral? 
ized  by  overwhelming  evils,  which  will  send  down 
his  name  to  posterity  as  a  sanguinary  tyrant ;  so 
much  so,  that  to  enter  into  a  fall -detail  of  JiiV 
cruelties,  in  floggings,  executions,  imprisonments, 
etc.,  would  be  far  too  sickening  and  disgusting.  One 
case  only  we  will  state  here,  which  will  suffice  to 
show  the  man  ;  and  this  is  stated  by  the  traveler  last 
named,  who  was  informed  of  the  abominable  trans 
action  by  one  who  was  an  eye  witness  of  the  whole 
affair. 

One  of  the  king's  servants,  it  would  appear,  had 
stolen  a  quantity  of  salt  fish.  The  case  having  come 
to  the  knowledge  of  Christophe,  the  man  was  ordered 

t  Mackenzie. 


90  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

to  be  laid  down  in  the  kitchen,  and  in  the  presence 
of  the  monarch,  was  literally  scourged  to  death,  not 
withstanding  earnest  entreaties  in  behalf  of  the 
culprit.* 

That  a  government  impregnated  by  the  spirit  of 
snch  a  man  should  perish,  is  only  natural  ;  nor,  in 
fact,  can  it  be  any  matter  of  regret  that  slavery, 
whether  crowned  or  in  the  name  of  liberty,  should 
be  abolished. 

It  is  true,  we  are  not  to  forget  that  this  king  had 
become  what  he  was,  not  only  from  his  own  natural 
ferocity,  but  from  a  system  under  which  he  had  been 
born  and  trained,  and  under  which  he  had  seen  men, 
far  superior  to  himself  in  education,  etc.,  practice  the 
most  horrid  and  barbarous  deeds. 

In  fact,  Christophe's  whole  system  degenerated 
into  low  oppression  ;  its  ruling  power  became  abso 
lute,  and  the  liberty  of  both  pen  and  tongue  was 
annihilated  ;  while  the  general  bearing  of  the  west 
ern  Republic,  and  the  presiding  spirit  of  Petion,  may 
be  seen  in  one  of  his  splendid  mottos  : — 

"Let  every  Haytian,  with  the  Constitution  in  his  hand, 
know  what  he  can  do,  and  what  he  ought  to  do." 

Here  it  is  fully  seen  that  the  leading  aim  of  this 
ruling  and  noble  mind,  was  to  raise  the  people  to  the 
level  and  dignity  of  an  unsophisticated  liberty.  Had 
this  great  and  good  intention  only  been  carried  out, 
and  accompanied  by  well-timed,  well-placed  and 
persevering  energy  on  the  part  of  Petion  himself, 
there  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  the  Haytian  Republic 
would  have  risen  rapidly  in  civilization  of  every 
*  Mackenzie. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  91 

kind,  and  prospered  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  its 
best  friends  ;  while  at  the  same  time  it  would  long 
ago  have  confounded  much  empty  reasoning  on  the 
African  character  in  general,  wrhich  to  develop  and 
demonstrate  doubtless  constitutes  the  great  mission 
of  the  Haytian  people,  in  their  existence  as  a  nation. 

Every  Ilaytiau,  with  the  Constitution  in  his  hand, 
and  the  ability  to  read  it  and  make  it  hisjiational 
guide,  necessarily  involved  that  every  Haytian 
should  have  sufficient  education  at  least  to  be  able 
to  read ;  from  this,  therefore,  would  result  the  pri 
mary  instruction  of  every  man,  wroman  and  child  in 
Hayti !  so  that  the  entire  nation  would  have  been 
placed  on  the  high  road  to  that  dignity  which  it  must 
be  confessed  it  has  never  yet  reached,  and  which  it 
never  can,  but  by  the  elevation  of  the  entire  mass  of 
the  people. 

Such  a  measure,  carried  into  effect  in  the  spirit  of 
true  republicanism,  would  have  superseded  the  neces 
sity  of  degrading  rural  codes,  which  inevitably  sup 
pose  a  degraded  and  sunken  people.  In  fact,  the 
education  of  the  masses,  as  here  supposed  by  Petion, 
is  the  only  true  law  by  which  real  wants,  and  there 
fore  real  industry,  can  be  created,  and  at  the  same 
time  the  dignity  of  a  nation  secured  and  promoted. 

It  must,  however,  be  both  admitted  and  deplored, 
that  the  grand  defect  of  Petion's  government  wras 
want  of  energy  ;  hence  the  best  plans  and  soundest 
principles  were  frequently  paralyzed  in  their  execu 
tion.  Could  the  energy  of  Christophe,  the  humanity 
of  Petion,  and  the  daring  of  Rigaud,  have  been 
brought  into  united  action,  under  one  government 
Hayti  might  have  won  the  admiration  of  the  world. 


02  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE. 

But  the  demon  of  discord  broke  loose  in  this  land  of 
freedom ;  and  notwithstanding  every  means  and 
element  existed  in  Hayti  to  sustain  the  dignity  of  an 
an  elevated,  wealthy  skid  praiseworthy  Independence, 
disappointment  has  afflicted  /both  Hayti  and  its 
friends ;  but  these  same  elements  still  exist,  nor  is  it 
by  any  means  too  late  to  bring  them  out  into  full  and 
successful  development. 


CHAPTER    III. 

^ 

Distribution  of  Lands.  — Senatorial  Plan. — Petion  a  Dictator. — 
Eepublicanism  the  choice  of  the  Educated.— Five  Carreaux  of 
Land  given. — Ardouin  on  the  Distribution  of  Lauds.— Petion 
He-elected. — He  is  envied. — Christophe  attacks  the  Republic. — 
Desertion  to  the  Republic. — Christophe  fears.— He  kills  the 
Colored  People  at  St.  Mark's.— He  builds  Laferriere. — His  Pa 
lace.— Candler's  Description  of  it.— $30, 000, 000  lodged  at  Lafer 
riere.— Idea  of  Purchasing  the  Spanish  part— Case  of  Medina. 
Chistophe's  Schools.— Falls  out  with  his  Bishop.— Is  smitten 
with  Apoplexy. — Fails  in  mounting  his  horse. — Commits  Sui 
cide. — His  Biography. — Indemnity  to  France.— Commissioners 
from  Louis  XVIII. — Presidency  for  Life.— House  of  Representa 
tives. — Esmongart  to  Christophe. — -Petiou  offers  Indemnity. — 
Bolivar  in  Hayti. 


The  nation  rises,  power  and  form  assumes, 

When  plains,  hills,  mountains,  with  their  boundless  wealth, 

To  her  brave  sons  are  fairly  meted  out. 

THE  distribution  of  lands  by  Petion  was  doubtless 
one  of  his  master-strokes  of  policy,  as  to  its  general 
effects  upon  the  Republic  over  which  he  presided, 
particularly  at  a  time  when  the  nation  needed  some 
such  popular  measure  for  its  final  organization  and 
consolidation.  In  fact,  it  is  almost  difficult  to  con 
ceive  how  this  small  nation,  which  had  just  broken 
loose  from  law  and  order,  had  existed  up  to  the  pre 
sent  moment.  By  this  means,  however,  it  soon  began 
to  assume  a  definite  form  ;  and  the  contrast  which 
the  free  and  simple  western  Republic  formed  with 
Christophers  more  pompous  and  almost  feudal  system 
iu  the  north,  was  great ;  nor  were  the  northern  peo 
ple  blind  to  this. 


94  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

The  measure  in  question,  relating  to  the  distribu 
tion  of  lands,  doubtless  told  well  in  its  influence 
and  power  on  the  nation :  in  fact,  it  created  a  con 
sciousness  of  national  existence ;  and  yet  it  is  a  sin 
gular  fact  that  this  great  measure  did  not  pass 
through  the  Senate  without  great  difficulty.  Why 
this  should  have  been  the  case,  we  will  not  now 
enquire,  especially  as  the  measure  itself  was  a  great, 
good,  and  vital  one. 

Petion's  proposal  was,  that  lots  of  land,  of  from 
thirty  to  sixty  or  more  acres,  should  be  distributed 
to  such  individuals  in  the  army  as  had  in  any  way 
distinguished  themselves  in  the  service  of  their  coun 
try.  This,  doubtless,  would  have  reached  a  great 
number  of  deserving  persons  In  the  nation,  and 
would  have  had  a  powerful  effect  in  diffusing 
strength  throughout  the  entire  Republic  ;  but  the 
Senate,  from  some  mysterious  cause,  either  did  not  or 
would  not  see  this,  and  the  consequence  was  painful 
and  unhappy  throughout  the  nation — dissensions  and 
conspiracies  being  the  result. 

Such  is  human  nature,  that  to  avoid  differences  of 
opinion  appears  to  be  neither  d6sirable  nor  possible, 
either  in  politics  or  religion,  and  yet  common  sense 
ought  to  preserve  peace.  The  measure  in  question 
was  undoubtedly  one  of  paramount  importance,  and 
if  carried  with  unanimity,  would  have  raised  the 
nation,  both  in  strength  and  dignity.  Whether  sel 
fish  and  ulterior  aims  really  operated  in  this  case,  we 
will  not  say  ;  but  certain  it  is  that  the  question  itself, 
important  as  it  was,  offered  nothing  intricate  :  it  was 
plain,  straightforward,  and  simple. 

The  Senate,  however,  drew  up  a  plan  of  their  own. 


FBOM   HISTORICAL  NOTES.  95 

"Why  they  should  not  have  adhered  to  that  of  their 
President,  or  why  the  President  himself  should  not 
have  sought  some  understanding  with  them,  rather 
than  disperse  them,  whether  by  military  power  or 
otherwise,*  will  be  for  posterity  to  consider.  The 
Executive,  ruled  by  the  majority,  has  yet  to  be  un 
derstood  in  Ilayti. 

The  leading  idea  of  the  Senatorial  plan  was  thus 
expressed : — 

t;  That  those  fathers  and  mothers  who  should  have  the  great 
est  number  of  legitimate  children,  resulting  from  honorable 
marriage,  should  be  favored  with  concessions  of  land." 

The  measure  of  the  Senate  was  unquestionably 
good  ;  yet  when  we  place  before  it  the  fact  that  the 
entire  population  which  had  fought  for  the  liberties 
of  the  country,  had  been  taught  by  men  of  superior 
acquirements  vastly  different  things,  and  that  there 
had  not  been  time  or  opportunity  yet  for  the  forma 
tion  of  domestic  order,  or  the  establishment  of  moral 
ity,  in  a  national  sense,  we  are  compelled  to  pause 
before  this  measure,  although  in  itself  good. 

Concubinage  and  libertinage  had  been  taught  the 
blacks  by  the  whites,  and  it  would  be  useless  to  shun 
a  truth  which  reveals  the  fact  of  the  almost  total 
absence  of  honorable  marriage  at  that  time  in  the 
country  ;  hence,  notwithstanding  the  measure  was 

*  S.  Larnour,  still  living,  who  was  attached  to  the  Senate  at  that 
time,  denies  that  military  power  was  in  any  sense  resorted  to  by 
Petion  in  this  case. 

L.  Ardouin,  in  his  Essay  on  Haytian  History,  declares  that  the 
Senate  dissolved  itself  involuntarily. 

M.  B.  Ardouin,  in  his  Studes  sur  1'histoire  d'Hayti,  declares  that 
Petion  threatened  military  force,  and  that  the  Senate  then  dis 
solved. 


96  ttAYTlAH   l&DEPEKDEHCE, 

good  and  laudable  in  itself,  yet  neither  the  practice 
or  neglect  of  marriage  could  lessen  the  desserts  of 
those  who  had  fought  and  bled  in  their  country's 
cause ;  while  the  execution  of  the  Senatorial  mea^> 
sure  must  have  produced  great  embarrassment,  by 
circumstances  which  had  resulted  from  causes  over 
which  no  one  had  had  any  control,  and  for  which  no 
one  was  or  could  be  responsible ;  but  the  main 
object  of  Petion  was,  a  prompt  and  immediate  effect 
upon  his  own  people,  and  also  upon  those  who  were 
under  the  spell  and  power  of  Christophe.  It  is  not, 
therefore,  surprising  that  the  measure  of  the  Senate 
should  have  become  unpopular  with  the  people,  or 
that  it  should  have  been  decidedly  opposed  by  Petion. 

The  whole  measure,  consequently,  was  postponed  ; 
and  in  the  meantime  the  Senate  demanded  of  the 
President,  their  Executive,  a  general  account  of  hia 
administration.  3?he  President,  in  reply,  takes  up 
the  position  that  he  was  not  responsible  to  them  for 
his  proceedings  ;  we  have,  however,  seen  that  it  was 
this  Senatorial  body,  as  the  representative  of  the  peo 
ple,  which  had  created  both  himself  and  his  power, 
as  President  of  the  Republic,  and  that  it  was  to  them, 
as  such,  that  he  had  sworn  fidelity  to  the  people. 

But  things  now  rose  to  so  high  a  pitch  between 
the  parties,  that  Petion  dismissed  the  Senate 
abruptly.  The  consequence  of  this  measure  was, 
that  Petion  rose  immediately  to  the  power  of  a  Dic 
tator,  which  for  a  short  period  he  certainly  exercised, 
until  it  was  feared  that  General  Rigaud,  who  was 
now  in  the  Southern  part  of  the  Island,  might  sym 
pathize  with  the  violently-dissolved  Senate,  and  by 
this  means  sap  the  foundations  of  Petion's  Republic. 


FKOM    HISTORICAL   NOTES*  97 

The  President,  therefore,  created  another  Senate  ; 
but  it  will  be  easy  to  understand  the  position,  charac 
ter  and  freedom  of  a  Senate  so  formed. 

President  Petion  was  at  this  time  surrounded  by 
many  difficulties ;  nor  was  it  to  be  expected  that 
they  would  be  lessened  by  interference  with  the  civil 
power  just  referred  to — a  case  in  which  we  see  a 
well-intentioned  man  was  compelled  to  act  contrary 
to  his  wishes.* 

Christophe  was  indeed  Petion's  chief  opponent ; 
but  he  had  now  become,  so  to  speak,  an  external 
enemy.  Party  feeling  within  ran  high,  and  it  would 
appear  that  Petion  and  his  friends  wrere  not  heartily 
in  favor  of  a  periodical  Presidency.  This,  doubtless, 
must  have  been  more  or  less  known  to  their  oppo 
nents,  and  is  the  more  to  be  regretted  from  the  fact 
that  General  Gerin  had  from  the  beginning  been  the 
avowed  and  well-known  rival  of  Petion. 

This  may  doubtless  be  considered  as  an  important 
epoch  in  Haytian  history,  and  posterity  can  now 
judge  of  the  propriety  of  the  contemplated  change  in 
the  Constitution. 

Whether  the  continuation  of  a  periodical  Presi 
dency  would  have  been  less  productive  of  revolutions 
than  has  been  a  life  Presidency,  is  now  a  fair  arid 
open  question.  It  is  not,  indeed,  here  intended  to 
decide  this  matter  ;  but  whatever  may  be  the  proba 
bilities  of  either  side,  the  fundamental  principle  of 
Republicanism  is  that  the  people  should  govern,  and 

*  It  would  be  unjust  to  the  memory  of  Petion,  to  infer  from  this 
trying  case  that  he  was  ever  in  any  sense  despotic.  This  was  far 
from  being  his  character.  It  must  be  admitted  that  the  course 
pursued  by  the  Senators  in  this  instance  is  quite  inexplicable. 


98  HA  YUAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

not  an  individual — the  Executive  being  their  servant, 
Hot  their  master. 

The  British  view  of  such  a  case  would  be,  that  if 
the  Executive  is  perfectly  controlled,  and  made 
responsible  to  the  people,  change  would  be  needless. 

The  American  view  would  be,  that  change  in  the 
Executive  would  be  as  necessary  as  elsewhere. 

A  free,  sound,  and  responsible  Government  is  the 
great  thing  needful  for  either  Ilayti  or  any  other 
country  $  and  with  this  boon,  all  else  is  of  minor  con 
sideration. 

It  might,  indeed,  be  said  that  the  masses  in  Ilayti 
at  this  time  were  utterly  unable  to  govern  them 
selves  ;  than  which,  perhaps,  nothing  could  be  more 
true ;  but  on  this  subject  we  have  only  to  remember 
that  it  was  the  intelligent  portion,  and  not  the  igno 
rant  masses  of  the  nation,  which  originally  chose  the 
Republican  form  of  Government ;  and  that  the  same 
amount  of  intelligence  which  was  capable  of 
choosing  its  form  of  government,  was  capable  of 
working  it. 

But  a  nation  with  its  masses  in  deep  ignorance,  is 
exposed  to  the  greatest  danger  that  can  well  be  con 
ceived.  Let  the  intelligent  classes  of  such  a  nation 
differ  among  themselves,  and  the  ignorant  masses — 
especially  in  a  free  Republic — will  become  the  mere 
tools  and  dupes  of  both  parties,  while  the  general 
result  will  be  the  wreck  of  the  nation.  Nor  can  it 
be  denied  that  such  has  been  the  lot  of  Ilayti,  to  a 
fearful  extent ;  so  much  so,  that  its  only  hope  and 
resource  at  the  present  day,  is  in  the  primary  Chris 
tian  education  of  every  individual  throughout  the 
entire  Republic.  This  may,  indeed,  seem  to  be  an 


FROM    HISTORICAL   NOTES.  99 

impossibility ;  but  however  great  and  insurmountable 
this  might  appear  to  be,  from  the  beginning  it  should 
have  been  the  conscientious  and  persevering  aim  of 
every  government ;  nor  will  there  ever  be  any  other 
means  for  this  nation  to  reach  that  degree  of  popula 
tion,  dignity,  and  wealth  which  the  Christian  world 
has  a  right  to  expect  in  it. 

No  mere  system  of  policy,  however  good,  can  do 
this.  Every  man,  woman,  and  child  in  the  nation 
must  be  something.  There  must  not  be  thousands 
upon  thousands  of  nonentities,  from  sheer  ignorance 
and  vice,  who  as  to  intelligence  and  industry,  are 
utterly  unproductive  from  inanity.  Systems  of  poli 
tics  will  then  find  their  right  shape,  and  the  springs 
of  the  nation  being  well  tempered,  will  be  prepared 
to  work ;  while  arms  and  reason  will  also  both  find 
their  right  places.  But  Petion  persevered  in  his 
great  plan  for  the  distribution  of  lands.  The  oppo 
sition  on  the  part  of  the  Senate  is  indeed  to  be  de 
plored.  The  President,  however,  was  bent  on  his 
purpose,  and  his  measure  was  popular. 

During  the  short  Dictatorship  which,  as  we  have 
seen,  took  place,  Petion  called  a  council  of  the  lead 
ing  officers  of  the  State,  both  civil  and  military  ;  and 
the  measure  which  he  had  so  much  at  heart,  and 
which  it  must  be  confessed  was  so  adapted  to  the 
then  peculiar  circumstances  of  the  Republic,  was 
carried  into  execution,  with  this  difference,  however, 
that  five  Carreaux  (or  some  twelve  acres)  of  land 
should  be  given  as  the  smallest  donation,  instead  of 
ten,  as  had  been  proposed  to  the  Senate — hence  title 
deeds  are  said  to  be  still  in  existence,  having  the  sig 
nature  of  Petion  during  1809. 


100 

It  must  certainly  be  admitted  that  this  was  one  of 
the  greatest  measures  ever  carried  out  in  Hajti.  By 
this  means  the  former  slave  was  made  to  feel  himself 
a  man ;  and  even  the  uneducated  and  free  citizen 
became  doubly  interested  in  his  own  country,  while 
he  also  became  attached  to  the  soil,  in  a  man 
ner  which  induced  him  to  try  its  virtue  by  culti 
vation.  Great  will  be  the  regret  of  all  posterity  that 
knowledge  was  not  deemed  as  essential  as  land  for 
the  people. 

The  following  are  the  remarks  of  an  able  and  well 
known  Haytian  writer  on  this  important  and  interest 
ing  subject: — 

"From  this  time,  a  new  era  for  the  country  commenced  ; 
property  thus  distributed  without  distinction  or  respect  of  per 
sons,  but  awarded,  it  might  almost  be  said,  to  the  masses,  has 
done  more  to  consolidate  our  institutions,  and  for  the  mainte 
nance  of  public  peace,  than  all  the  -  other  measures  of  the 
Legislature  put  together."  "x" 

And  yet,  great  as  this  measure  really  was,  time  has 
shown  us  that  in  a  national  sense,  one  thing  was  want 
ing  with  this,  viz.,  sound  primary  knowledge. 

Great  wealth  distributed  to  a  people  not  possessed 
of  the  light  and  judgment  needful  for  its  just  and 
proper  use,  would  simply  be  in  danger,  first,  of  not 
being  increased  by  judicious  industry;  secondly,  of 
being  thrown  away  altogether,  in  the  name  of  sale 
or  otherwise,  from  inability  to  appreciate  it. 

This  great  national  boon  to  the  masses,  the  accom 
panying  one  of  national  education  being  absent,  lost 
more  than  half  its  value  and  power.-  Education  even 
on  a  limited  scale,  had  it  been  possible  at  this  early 

*  M.  B.  Ardouin,  editor  of  "Le  Temps." 


FKOM    HISTORICAL   NOTES.  101 

stage  of  the  national  existence,  would  have  taught 
them  that  their  lands  were  worth  more  to  them 
than  gold. 

The  difficulties  of  a  popular  education  were  unques 
tionably  great  under  the  circumstances  of  those 
times ;  but  the  question  is,  whether  anything  of  the 
sort  was  any  where  really  at  heart.  Nothing  but  an 
intense  Christianity  tilling  a  ruler's  heart,  could  have 
led  to  this ;  certainly  a  mere  national  creed  would 
not.  At  the  same  time,  it  may  safely  be  said,  that 
until  this  becomes  a  question  of  heart  and  conscience, 
on  the  part  of  the  reigning  power,  the  difficulties  of 
such  a  work  will  ever  be  deemed  insurmountable.  It 
is  therefore  much  to  be  regretted,  that  the  sound 
policy  which  dictated  the  enriching  of  the  people, 
did  not  also  strike  out  some  bold  plan  of  universal 
education.  Had  this  been  done,  the  crime  of  Jacob, 
who  sold  his  birth-right  for  a  trifle,  might  perhaps 
never  have  been  heard  of  among  the  new  possessors 
of  land  in  Hayti ;  for  it  is  well  known  that  in  some 
cases  they  were  shamefully  sold.  It  is,  however, 
gratifying  to  be  able  to  say  that  these  instances  were 
not  common. 

It  will  not  be  astonishing  that  many  of  the  larger  lots 
of  land  should  have  remained  uncultivated,  even  to 
the  present  day,  while  the  smaller  portions  have  been 
better  attended  to.  This  is  explained  by  the  fact 
that  the  small  lots  generally  fell  into  the  possession 
of  such  men  as  would  not  hesitate  to  cultivate  their 
little  properties  with  their  own  hands ;  while  the 
larger  lots  became  the  properties  of  such  whose 
rank  in  life  was  not,  in  their  own  estimation,  com 
patible  with  manual  labor.  Such  has  been  the  curse 


102  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

of  slavery  wherever  it  has  existed,  that  labor  has 
ever  been  considered  as  degrading ;  want  of  capital, 
therefore,  with  these  individuals,  would  render  them 
helpless  with  their  lands. 

On  the  9th  of  March,  1811,  Petion  was  re-elected 
President  of  Hayti ;  but  the  involuntary  dissolution 
of  the  Senate,  which  first  created  his  power  and  gave 
him  his  elevation,  induces  the  fear  that  the  Senate 
which  now  re-elected  him  was  not  so  perfectly  and 
absolutely  free  as  the  former  one ;  and  although  there 
can  be  no  doubt  but  that  Petion  stood  high  in  gener 
al  estimation,  yet  it  would  have  been  still  more  satis 
factory  had  his  re-election  been  accompanied  with, 
and  resulted  from,  the  straightforward  and  honest 
working  of  the  Constitution,  and  of  those  institutions 
to  which  he  had  in  so  manly  and  frank  a  manner, 
sworn  fidelity.  It  would,  however,  be  unjust  to  the 
memory  of  Petion,  to  overlook  the  strange  conduct 
of  the  Senate  which  he  was  obliged  to  dissolve,  and 
the  difficulties  which  resulted  therefrom  to  him ;  nor 
will  any  error  of  judgment  in  this  case  shake  the 
confidence  of  posterity  in  this  noble-minded  man, 
who,  it  must  be  confessed,  was  far  in  advance  of  his 
people  generally. 

Yet  that  there  were  men  in  the  nation  at  that 
time,  who  were  perfectly  competent  to  hold  and 
guide  the  helm  of  public  affairs,  history  abundantly 
testifies ;  and  if  these  men  did  aspire,  legitimately, 
to  share  in  the  Presidential  honors,  it  must  simply  be 
remembered,  that  this  was  honorable  to  them.  It 
must,  however,  be  borne  in  mind,  that  no  man  had 
taken  a  more  active  part  in  the  general  organization 
of  the  institutions  of  the  country,  than  had  Petion 


FKOM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  103 

himself;  nor  can  there  be  any  doubt  that  his  original 
idea  in  consenting  to  a  periodical  Presidency,  was, 
that  such  a  measure  would  afford  the  means  of  saving 
the  nation  from  anarchy  and  confusion,  by  fairly 
opening  the  means  of  gratification  to  honest,  although 
ambitious  men,  who  also  had  rendered  the  greatest 
services  to  their  country,  while  at  the  same  time  it 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  nation  the  means  of  ulti 
mate  relief  from  either  an  overbearing  or  indolent 
ruler.* 

Potion  was  re-elected ;  but  it  soon  became  evident 
that  the  means  by  which  this  re-election  had  been 
brought  about,  so  surrounded  him  by  secret  and 
open  enemies,  that  his  life  became  unhappy.  !N"or 
can  there  be  any  doubt,  that  he  would  have  saved 
himself  many  a  pang,  and  have  prolonged  his  useful 
and  valuable  life  in  the  service  of  his  country,  had 
he  more  rigidly  adhered  to  his  own  first  principles  of 
popular  government.  Had  he  set  the  example, 
which  would  have  been  so  worthy  of  him,  of  resign 
ing  dignity  and  power  when  he  might  have  done  so, 
who  can  tell  but  that  his  example  might  have  shaped 
out  a  course  for  his  successors  of  future  times,  as 
would  have  protected  his  unhappy  country  from 
revolutions,  which  have  seriously  retarded  its  pro 
gress  and  general  prosperity.  But  it  must  be  admit 
ted,  that  the  Washingtons  which  have  adorned  our 
race,  have  been  few !  and  also  that  Washington  was 
never  in  the  same  circumstances. 

*  It  will  easily  be  seen,  from  the  strange  course  pursued  by  the 
Senate,  that  conflicting  elements  were  already  at  work  ;  nor  can 
there  be  any  doubt  that  the  reasons  for  a  life  Presidency  were 
grave  and  convincing  to  the  parties  which  carried  this  measure. 


104:  IIAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

During  all  this  time,  the  northern  power  of 
Christophe  was  taking  deep  root ;  an  iron  rule  was 
driving  on  successfully  a  forced  yet  real  prosperity. 

In  1812,  the  crowned  chief  of  the  north  manifested 
an  intense  desire  to  reign  over  the  whole  island  of 
Hayti,  and  his  decision  was,  to  commence  this 
ambitious  design  by  the  conquest  of  the  Western 
Republic.  An  army  was  therefore  organized  arid 
well  equipped ;  nor  was  it  without  discipline ;  and 
with  the  king  at  their  head,  all  of  military  power 
which  the  monarch  had  been  able  to  get  together, 
advanced  towards  Port  an  Prince. 

At  first,  everything  seemed  to  promise  victory. 
The  city  on  the  sea  side  was  blockaded  by  all  the 
naval  power  that  could  be  mustered,  while  Christophe 
advanced  by  land  with  his  army,  and  came  up  with 
the  Republican  forces  at  a  place  called  Santos,  about 
two  leagues  and  a  half  from  the  western  capital. 
Here  the  royal  arms  prevailed,  and  for  a  time,  all  on 
their  side  seemed  to  be  prosperous.  In  fact,  the 
presence  of  the  king  evidently  animated  the  troops, 
and  their  triumph  began  to  appear  sure ;  but  during 
the  contest,  it  was  announced  to  the  king  that  the 
royal  family  had  arrived  at  St.  Mark's,  and  he  thought 
proper  to  return  and  meet  them,  not  for  a  moment 
doubting  either  the  solidity  of  his  system,  as  to  form 
of  government,  or  the  fidelity  of  his  men.  This  was 
a  false  step,  and  simply  proved  that  this  man  had 
been  thoroughly  blinded  by  pomp  and  power,  and 
that  the  true  state  of  things  had,  by  these  deceiving 
means,  been  hid  from  him,  as  will  be  seen  in  the 
fact,  that  during  his  temporary  absence,  two  of  his 
principal  officers,  one  a  colonel  and  the  other  a 


FKOM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  105 

general,  with  the  whole  of  the  forces  under  them, 
deserted,  and  went  over  to  the  Eepublicans. 

Christophe  hearing  of  this,  was  soon  back ;  "but  his 
eyes  were  now  opened  to  see  that  his  own  army  was 
too  much  enchanted  by  the  free  institutions  and  the 
almost  unbounded  liberty  of  the  Republic,  to  afford 
him  any  hope  of  success.  He  had  brought  despot 
ism  too  near  to  liberty.  Nor  did  the  latter  fail  in 
her  charms ;  and  he  doubtless  felt  that  the  safety  of 
both  himself  and  his  kingdom,  was  in  his  immediate 
return  to  his  own  capital,  which  he  promptly  did, 
and  thus  wisely  abandoned  the  whole  enterprise. 
That  he  would  have  succeeded,  had  he  remained 
with  his  army,  is  probable,  not  to  say  certain. 
Nothing,  however,  could  more  clearly  demonstrate 
the  hopeless  character  of  this  man,  than  the  fact,  that 
this  really  humiliating  event  failed  to  convince  him 
of  the  falseness  of  his  position,  or  of  any  one  of 
his  errors. 

Hence  the  ferocity  of  Christophers  temper  was  by 
no  means  diminished  by  this  open  declaration  of 
hate,  both  to  him  and  his  system.  On  the  contrary, 
he  became  fiercer  than  ever ;  and  the  fact  of  the  two 
deserting  officers  being  men  of  mixed  blood,  led  him 
to  pour  out  all  his  fury  upon  that  class  of  the  com 
munity,  so  much  so,  that  on  his  arrival  at  St.  Mark's, 
as  he  returned  to  his  capital,  it  is  said  he  ordered  a 
general  massacre  of  the  colored  people  of  that  town.* 

Things,  however,  soon  found  their  level,  and  the 

prosperity  of  the  kingdom,  as  to  general  industry  and 

produce,  went  on  rapidly.     It  is  true,  all  was  done 

by  oppression.     The  king  and  his  nobility  were  the 

*  Schelcher. 


106  HAYTIAN   INDErENDENCE, 

real  masters  of  the  people,  and  their  intense  thirst 
for  wealth,  together  with  their  power,  constituted  a 
strong  rural  code,  and  at  the  same  time  were  the 
real  springs  of  action ;  in  fact,  the  power  was 
military. 

Amongst  many  other  monuments  of  the  driving 
energy  of  this  extraordinary  man,  and  of  which  the 
remains  are  still,  in  part,  standing,  may  be  noticed 
the  Eoyal  Palace  at  Sans  Souci,  and  the  great 
fortress  known  as  "  Laferriere,"  which  stands  com- 
mandingly  on  a  mountain  summit  of  some  2,000  feet 
high,  overlooking  and  protecting  a  vast  plain  beneath. 

The  palace  of  "Sans  Souci"  is  thus  described  by  an 
English  traveler,  who  visited  the  ruins  in  1840,  before 
the  great  earthquake  had  completed  its  general 
wreck : 

"  The  buildings,  though  once  splendid,  were  never  in  good 
architectural  taste.  The  whole  domain,  when  properly  main 
tained  in  the  days  of  Christophe,  must  have  been  a  princely 
affair,  and  adds  one  to  the  many  other  proofs  he  gave,  that  it 
was  his  ambition  to  be  thought,  every  inch  of  him,  a  king ! 
The  rooms  were  lofty  and  spacious ;  the  floors  and  side  panels 
were  of  polished  mahogany,  or  beautifully  inlaid  with  Mosaic. 
The  apartments  were  said  to  have  been  sumptuously  furnished, 
and  the  gardens  and  baths  for  the  young  princesses,  were  in 
keeping  with  the  general  splendor. 

"  The  coach-houses  and  stables  were  magnificent.  A  num 
ber  of  royal  carriages  still  remain,  the  panels  of  which,  gilded 
and  emblazoned  with  the  royal  arms,  show  at  how  great  a  cost 
they  must  have  been  constructed — one  of  which  cost  in  London 
£700  sterling."  * 

"With  regard  to  the  remarkable  castle,  called 
"  Laferriere,"  the  following  is  a  description  of  it,  from 

*  J.  Candler. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  107 

the  pen  of  another  English  traveler,  who   visited 
it  about  1826 : 

"  This  huge  pile  of  building  is  said  to  have  three  hundred 
pieces  of  artillery,  and  the  construction  of  it,  which  is  said  to 
have  occupied  several  years,  must  have  cost  inconceivable 
labor. 

"  The  materials  for  the  building,  and  the  artillery,  were 
dragged  up  by  human  Lauds,  for  which,  in  addition  to  the 
troops  employed,  there  were  regular  levies  of  the  peasantry. 

li  In  looking  back  upon  the  precipices  to  be  surmounted,  I 
can  easily  believe  that  it  cost  the  labor  of  an  entire  regiment 
a  whole  day  to  drag  up  a  single  thirty-two  pounder.  Neither 
age  nor  sex  were  exempt  from  this  duty,  and  the  royal  officers 
were  unsparing  in  their  exactions  of  labor.  I  saw  a  woman  at 
Gonaives,  whose  back  was  deeply  whaled  from  a  cow-skin* 
applied  to  it,  by  the  General  in  command,  when  employed  in 
carrying  stones  upon  her  head.  The  mortality  was  very  great ; 
and  it  is  said  that  the  severity  of  the  service  was  one  of  the 
causes  of  the  revolution. 

"  I  cannot  suppose  the  citadel  was  ever  intended  for  anything 
else  than  a  stronghold,  into  which,  in  case  of  rebellion  or  inva 
sion,  the  chief  might  have  retired  with  all  his  disposable 
money,  which  was  there  hoarded  up,  and  it  is  said  that  at  one 
time,  no  less  than  $30,000,000  were  collected,  some  six  millions 
of  which  found  their  way  into  the  Kepublican  treasury."  f 

These  great  specimens  of  energy,  taste,  and  enter 
prise,  whatever  may  have  been  the  motives  or  causes 
which  originated  them,  were  all  demonstrations  of 
Haytian  capacity  and  thought.  The  same  might  be 
said  of  Marchand,  where  Dessalines  left  the  traces  of 
his  power  and  wealth.  "Why,  then,  should  they  have 
been  left  to  perish  ?  Had  Boyer  turned  the  palace 
of  Christophe  into  a  ^National  University,  he  would 
have  immortalized  his  memory,  by  turning  a  great 

*  A  s\r itch  of  that  material.  f  Mackenzie. 


108  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

production  of  the  llaytian  mind  and  wealth  to  good 
account.  The  means  of  doing  this  were  on  the  spot ; 
but  he  chose  that  it  should  perish,  because  Christophe 
was  a  despot,  and  the  enemy  of  himself  and  his 
republic. 

It  is  stated  by  an  English  writer  on  Hayti,*  that 
Christophe  had  amassed  the  immense  wealth  already 
referred  to,  with  the  hope  of  ultimately  purchasing 
the  Spanish  part  of  the  island  from  the  Spanish 
government.  Be  this  as  it  may,  the  castle  seemed  to 
be  a  fitting  and  sure  place  for  the  deposit  of  any 
amount  of  treasure. 

From  this  mountain  elevation  is  seen  the  immense 
"  Pleine  du  ISTord,"  having  behind  the  fortification,  in 
a  hollow,  the  well  known  village  of  Dondon.  This 
lofty  fortress  is  seen  from  an  immense  distance.  The 
climate  of  the  neighborhood,  even  in  summer,  is 
delicious;  the  winds  of  December  and  January  being 
sometimes  even  uncomfortably  cold. 

The  case  of  Medina  affords  another  view  of  the 
daring  character  of  Christophe. 

In  1814,  the  French  government  of  Louis  XVIII. 
sent  out  commissioners  to  Hayti,  to  endeavor  to  re 
establish  its  sovereignty  in  that  country.  On  this 
occasion  an  indirect  menace  was  held  out. 

Medina  had  served  under  Toussaint,  but  had 
abandoned  him  for  the  French.  Christophe  ordered 
his  arrest,  notwithstanding  he  was  the  representative 
of  so  great  and  powerful  a  nation,  and  on  examining 
his  papers,  it  was  found  that  he  was  a  spy,  and  that 
his  aim  was  to  excite  insurrection,  and  regain  the 
country  for  France. 

*  Franklin. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  109 

This  man  was  brought  to  trial,  and  found  guilty 
by  a  military  tribunal  of  the  charges  made  against 
him,  and  was  thrown  into  prison.  How  he  died  no 
one  knows ;  no  account  seems  to  have  been  given  of 
him  afterwards.  * 

Christophers  efforts  in  behalf  of  education  were 
praiseworthy.  With  regard,  however,  to  the  masses, 
but  little  if  anything  was  done.  The  few  schools 
which  he  did  establish,  were  worthy  of  the  elevated 
manner  in  which  he  aimed  at  doing  everything. 
Several  English  gentlemen  of  high  standing  in  litera 
ture  were  sent  for,  one  or  two  of  whom  were  clergy 
men  ;  and  many  have  believed  that  it  was  his  inten 
tion  to  supersede  the  French  language  by  the  English. 
Certain  it  is,  that  the  English  language  had  begun 
to  be  very  extensively  understood  in  the  northern 
kingdom.  In  fact,  it  is  generally  admitted  that 
Christophe  was  quite  of  English  predilection.  His 
schools  were  furnished  with  hundreds,  if  not  thous 
ands,  of  copies  of  the  Scriptures,  many  of  which 
were  printed  with  one  column  of  English  and  one  of 
French  on  each  page.  The  efficiency  of  these 
schools  was  subsequently  seen  in  the  fact,  that  they 
furnished  the  country  with  many  well  educated  and 
able  men,  most  of  whom  could  express  themselves 
with  more  or  less  ease  in  English,  a  fact  which  makes 
it  the  more  to  be  regretted  that  the  national  plan  of 
education  was  on  so  limited  a  scale. 

"With  regard  to  religion  and  the  clergy  in  Chris- 
tophe's  kingdom,  it  would  appear  that  he  had  two 
Archbishops,  who  both,  it  is  said,  fell  under  his  dis 
pleasure  for  a  time.  He  had  also  in  view  the  cre- 
*  Franklin,  1828. 


110  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

ation  of  a  national  clergy.  Whether  he  would  per 
manently  have  placed  his  church  and  clergy  under 
the  care  of  the  Pope,  is  perhaps  questionable ;  but 
whatever  difficulty  might  have  arisen  in  this  matter, 
all  would  doubtless  have  been  easily  overcome,  for  it 
would  have  cost  this  king  but  little  to  assume  the 
position  of  Henry  VIII.  of  England,  in  any  case  of 
necessity. 

In  reference  to  literature  generally,  it  will  scarcely 
be  expected  that  much  can  be  said,  either  as  to 
Christophe  himself,  or  his  kingdom, — a  sort  routine 
signature,  applied  by  his  own  hand  to  the  State 
documents,  was  probably  the  extent  of  his  learning. 

A  royal  Almanac  was  published  once  a  year.  A 
code  of  laws  was  also  drawn  up,  under  the  title  of 
"  Code  d'Henri  I."  A  newspaper  regularly  ap 
peared,  in  which  the  system  of  monarchy  was 
defended.  The  press,  therefore,  was  introduced  into 
this  small  kingdom,  and  notwithstanding  there  were 
but  comparatively  few  in  the  whole  country  who 
could  read  its  productions,  it  is  not  to  be  inferred 
from  thence,  that  intelligence  was  totally  absent ; 
native,  although  uncultivated  talent,  abounded,  as 
will  be  understood  from  the  fact,  that  that  genera 
tion  had  been  in  close  contact  with  hundreds,  if  not 
thousands,  of  more  or  less  educated  Frenchmen,  both 
in  the  army  and  otherwise.  Still  to  expect  much 
from  the  nation  generally  in  this  sense,  would  be 
even  unjust,  for  the  masses  had  never  yet  been  cared 
for.  They,  like  most  of  them  in  Europe  in  those 
days,  were  simply  what  circumstances  made  them. 

Years  and  events  rolled  on,  and  this  small  king 
dom  increased  in  wealth,  from^the  fact,  that  the 


FROM    HISTORICAL   NOTES.  Ill 

highest  pressure  of  every  kind,  except  that  of  avowed 
slavery,  was  brought  to  bear  upon  the  whole  nation. 

But  the  iron  and  clay  of  tyranny  and  corruption 
did  never  yet  combine.  The  hour  of  trial  has  ever 
brought  them  down,  with  all  the  nation's  hopes. 
Hence  Christophers  solemn  hour  came  on.  He  raved, 
and  stormed,  and  strutted  during  his  short  day,  until 
the  memorable  year  1820.  Towards  the  autumn  of 
this  year,  he  received  what  seemed  to  be  the  first 
warning  of  his  fate,  by  a  stroke  of  apoplexy,  which 
fell  upon  him  as  he  sat  at  service  in  the  church  at 
Limonade.  The  stroke  appears  to  have  been  a  heavy 
one,  not  only  to  himself  personally;  for  the  same 
blow  which  had  thus  prostrated  him,  seemed  myste 
riously  to  shake  his  throne  also.  During  his  illness, 
a  mutiny  broke  out,  which  no  doubt  had  long  been 
planned.  Hence  the  royal  army,  which  under  the 
"  Prince  de  Limbe,"  had  been  sent  to  St.  Mark's  to 
put  down  the  rebellion,  which  at  first  appeared 
there,  joined  the  Republicans  of  the  West,  with 
whom  they  warmly  fraternised. 

The  unhappy  and  now  afflicted  king,  hearing  this, 
attempted  to  mount  his  horse,  but  the  final  knell  of 
his  power  had  now  rung,  and  the  attempt  was  use 
less.  Had  he  only  been  able  to  appear  at  the  head 
of  his  army,  it  is  possible  he  might  have  recovered 
all.  And  yet,  even  then,  he  would  only  have  put 
off  the  evil  day. 

The  king's  household  troops  were  now  sent ;  but 
the  whole  kingdom  was  ripe  for  revolt ;  they  also 
strengthened  the  Republican  ranks,  by  going  over 
to  them. 

Christophe,  informed  of  this,  saw  at  once  that  all 


112  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

hope  was  now  gone,  and  that  his  kingdom  had 
fallen.  Finding  that  the  Republican  army  was 
approaching  his  capital,  and  in  fact  about  to  enter, 
he  at  this  moment,  being  at  "  Sans  Souci,"  withdrew 
to  his  chamber,  professedly  to  meditate  on  what  was 
to  be  done,  and  at  the  same  time  requesting  not  to 
be  disturbed.  Soon  after  this,  the  report  of  a  pistol 
was  heard  in  his  room,  and  in  a  few  minutes  he  was 
found  a  corpse,  he  having  evidently  retired,  simply 
to  end  his  mortal  career.  Thus  fell  the  man,  who 
was  known  often  to  have  reproached  JSTapoleon  L  for 
surviving  his  misfortunes. 

The  queen,  renowned  for  her  humanity  and  kind 
ness,  coming  in  at  the  moment,  and  finding  two  of 
the  generals  weeping  at  the  dreadful  scene,  bitterly 
reproached  them,  reminding  them  that  their  treach 
erous  flatteries  had  ruined  the  king. 

The  Republican  army  soon  entered  Cape  Haytian. 
Already  the  two  sons  of  Christophe  were  killed,  but 
the  quoen  was  saved,  and  with  her  two  daughters, 
was  taken  under  the  care  of  President  Boyer,  and 
sent  to  Port  au  Prince.  Ultimately,  the  mother  and 
her  two  daughters  were  sent  to  Europe,  where  the 
queen  lived  in  Italy  many  years  after  the  death  of 
her  husband. 

"  Henry  CLristophe,  according  to  an  account  sanctioned  by 
him,  was  born  in  the  island  of  Grenada,  in  the  year  1769,  and 
came  out  at  an  early  age  to  St.  Doraingue.  He  was  a  Sanibo, 
and  the  slave  of  a  French  gentleman,  whose  daughter  resided  at 
the  Cape  when  I  was  there,  and  to  whom  Christophe  was  kind 
and  attentive  in  his  prosperity.  He  afterwards  became  a  waiter 
at  an  hotel  and  gaming  house.  It  does  not  appear  when  he 
entered  the  army  ;  but  in  1801  he  was  General  of  Brigade,  and 
Governor  of  the  Cape.  He  distinguished  himself  at  the  arrival 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  113 

of  the  French  expedition :  first  in  his  negotiations  with  Le  Clerc, 
and  secondly  by  filling  his  house,  richly  furnished,  with  com 
bustibles,  and  setting  fire  to  it,  as  a  signal  for  the  conflagration 
of  the  whole  city. 

"Before  Toussaint  submitted,  Christophe  had  yielded  to 
French  ascendency,  and  served  for  some  time,  but  afterwards 
joined  the  bands  that  were  roused  to  revolt,  by  the  unsparing 
attrocities  of  Rochambeau,  whose  memory  has  an  unenviable 
celebrity  in  every  part  of  Hayti. 

"  Christophe  was  one  of  the  officers  that  signed  the  Act  of 
Independence,  proclaimed  by  Dessalines,  who  afterwards 
became  Emperor  Jaques  I.  The  indulgences  of  Christophe  are 
said  to  have  been  of  the  most  abandoned  description. 

"  In  the  midst  of  all  his  brutality,  Christophe  was  intent  on 
exalting  the  condition  of  his  kingdom,  although  his  personal 
gratifications  were  probably  the  main-spring  of  his  action.  He 
was  the  principal  dealer  in  the  country ;  and  some  English 
merchants,  who  had  extensive  transactions  with  him,  have 
described  him  to  me  as  singularly  well  informed  on  matters 
connected  with  his  business.  To  promote  the  civilization  of  his 
subjects,  he  assembled  men  of  talent  even  from  Europe,  and 
undoubtedly  promoted  activity  and  enterprise.  As  an  ignorant 
man,  he  may  be  considered  one  of  those  phenomena,  that  occa 
sionally  excite  attention,  but  leave  scarcely  any  beneficial  trace 
behind."  * 

We  now  return  to  the  Western  Republic,  which  in 
1812  received  the  submission  of  the  southern  part  of 
the  island,  with  the  exception  of  an  obscure  band 
under  Goman,  which  occasioned  more  petty  annoy 
ance  than  real  fear. 

The  important  movement  which  led  to  the  union 
between  the  western  and  southern  parts,  was  under 
the  direction  of  General  Borgella,  and  was  an  im 
portant  accession  to  the  Republic,  which  was  now 
gradually  gaining  strength,  notwithstanding  much 
internal  dissension. 

*  Mackenzie. 


HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

In  1814,  the  first  step  in  another  great  movement 
took  place.  This  was  the  great  question  of  an  indem 
nity  to  France  for  the  losses  of  the  former  French 
colonists. 

"Whatever  view  may  be  taken  of  this  question  as 
to  the  right  or  wrong  of  the  matter,  it  is  not  sur 
prising  that  the  former  landed  proprietors  should 
have  attempted  something  of  the  sort.  Hence 
Louis  XVIII.  was  no  sooner  seated  on  the  throne  of 
France,  than  he  began  to  think  of  regaining  the  old 
French  colony  of  St.  Domingue.  The  French  gov 
ernment,  therefore,  named  three — Lavaise,  Draver- 
man,  and  Madina — not,  it  would  appear,  as  an 
avowed  and  straightforward  deputation  ;  but  their 
object  was  rather  to  sound  the  national  feeling  of  the 
Haytians  on  this  tender  point. 

With  Christophe,  as  we  have  already  seen  in  the 
case  of  Madina,  the  question  was  soon  settled.  Lavaise 
also  wTrote  to  Christophe,  and  even  proposed  to  him 
submission  to  France,  promising  at  the  same  time 
great  and  flattering  things.  But  his  efforts  were 
simply  treated  with  contempt,  Christophe  refusing 
all,  or  any  treaty  whatever,  with  France,  which  did 
not  recognize  the  independence  of  Hayti.  Petion 
also  demanded  the  recognition  of  Ilaytian  inde 
pendence,  but  offered  at  the  same  time  an  indemnity, 
which  however  was  to  be  given  on  the  ground  of 
such  a  recognition.  Here  the  matter  rested  for 
another  year  or  two. 

It  must  not,  however,  be  lost  sight  of,  that  France 
most  certainly  never  would  have  renounced  what  she 
would  have  deemed  her  lawful  claims,  on  any  other 
condition  than  that  of  an  indemnity  in  some  form  or 


FRCM   HISTORICAL  NOTES.  115 

other,  and  that  therefore  a  blunt  refusal  on  the  part 
of  the  Republic,  would  unquestionably  have  involved 
a  ruinous  and  exterminating  war ;  for  it  is  not  to  be 
supposed  that  France  would  have  submitted  to  any 
thing  which  she  might  conceive  to  be  incompatible 
with  her  dignity  as  a  nation.  We  shall  do  well, 
therefore,  to  pause,  before  blaming  the  prudence  of 
Petion  on  this  really  momentous  question.  All  that 
he  did  in  this  matter,  was  evidently  compatible  with 
the  highest  claims  of  national  honor.* 

In  1815,  Christophe  renewed  proposals  to  the 
Republican  government  in  the  west,  to  come  under 
his  sceptre;  but  it  was  well  known,  that  as  the 
monarch  advanced  in  years,  he  also  advanced  in 
ferocity,  and  his  labor,  therefore,  in  this  matter,  was 
in  vain. 

The  year  1816  is  remarkable  in  Haytian  history, 
and  in  fact  constitutes  an  epoch  in  the  events  and 
career  of  the  nation  worthy  of  attention.  The  re 
modeling  of  the  Constitution  is  the  case  now 
referred  to. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  in  1806,  a  Consti 
tution  was  framed  by  a  national  assembly,  called 
"  1'Asseinblee  Constituante ;"  that  up  to  that  time, 
Christophe  and  Petion  had  been  united ;  but  the 
difference  of  character  and  disposition  between  the 
two  men,  was  even  at  this  time  well  known.  Chris- 
tophe's  claims,  however,  to  the  chief  post  of  honor 
were  recognized  ;  but  it  was  known  that  a  Constitu 
tion  which  limited  and  controlled  the  executive, 

*  Petion  suggested  to  Lavaise  the  principle  of  an  indemnity  to 
the  colonists,  in  compensation  for  private  property,  from  the  pos 
session  of  which  they  were  forever  excluded.—  W.  Y.  G.  Smith,  M.D. 


116  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

would  be  rejected  by  him.  It  is  not,  however,  sur 
prising  that  the  ideas  of  the  educated  Haytians  of 
that  age  should  have  been  even  ulta-Republican,  and 
that  the  Constitution  of  1806  should  have  been 
incompatible  with  the  despotic  notions  of  Christophe. 
Even  Petion  himself  found  before  long  that  the  Con 
stitution  to  which  he  had  sworn  fidelity,  left  him  but 
little  power ;  hence  his  ultimate  dissolution  of  his 
senate,  and  the  formation  of  another,  by  which,  in 
1811,  he  was  without  difficulty  reflected.  But  at 
the  next  presidential  election  in  1816,  it  was  thought 
time  to  change  the  order  of  things  entirely,  and  the 
presidency  was  to  be  for  life.  The  principle  reason 
assigned  being,  that  the  repeated  elections  for  the 
presidency  created  aspirants  for  power  and  place,  and 
exposed  the  country  to  the  revolutionary  effects  of 
party -feeling  and  strife. 

As  has  been  already  intimated,  the  prudence  of 
this  step,  however  pure  and  honest  the  motive  which 
led  to  it,  may  be  fairly  doubted.  The  question 
seems  rather  to  be,  whether  at  such  a  time  a  peri 
odical  presidency  did  not  rather  serve  as  a  national 
safety-valve  than  otherwise,  allowing  the  heat  of 
spirits,  animated  with  a  laudable  ambition,  to  escape 
through  a  hope  of  one  day  reaching  this  high  and  so 
much  desired  post  of  honor.  Whether  it  was  right 
and  prudent  utterly  to  cut  off  such  a  hope,  is  at  least 
doubtful ;  certain  it  is  that  revolutions  in  Hayti  have 
ever  since  been  either  feared,  attempted,  or  taking 
place. 

Whatever  regrets  may  mingle  with  the  contem 
plation  of  things  and  events  as  they  present  them 
selves  to  us  about  this  time  in  the  history  of  Hayti, 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  117 

let  it  not  be  forgotten,  that  there  was  also  much  to 
approve;  for  whatever  errors  of  judgment  maybe 
apparent  in  the  general  measures  of  those  days,  it  is 
also  quite  evident  that  a  great  amount  of  genuine 
patriotism  was  the  honor  and  glory  of  those  times. 
Hence  a  great  and  good  measure  now  demands  both 
our  notice  and  applause. 

A  nearer  approach'  to  the  representative  system,  is 
the  question  now  before  us,  or  che  formation  of  what 
might  be  termed  a  national  parliament.  This  was  a 
fair  and  honest  step  in  the  right  direction,  and  one 
amongst  many  others  which  demonstrates  that  true 
independence  is  at  least  the  right  road  to  true  dignity. 
Error,  however,  in  a  young  country,  is  frequent  on 
this  great  subject  of  liberty,  which  is  frequently 
either  not  sufficiently  guarded,  or  not  sufficiently 
understood.  Nevertheless,  it  must  be  admitted  that 
the  measure  in  question  was  a  great  step  in  advance 
towards  free  institutions ;  nor  would  it  be  just  to  the 
memory  of  Fetion  not  to  admit  that  posterity  owes 
him  much. 

The  system  of  things  now  prevailing  in  the  West 
was  entirely  republican,  and  therefore  the  election 
of  the  representatives  was  understood  to  be  by  uni 
versal  suffrage.  It  must,  nevertheless,  be  admitted, 
that  for  an  entirely  uneducated  mass  to  be  possessed 
of  sovereign  power,  is  an  anomally.  It  is  true  that 
in  this  case,  there  was  an  educated  class,  capable  of 
directing,  or  doing  for  the  rest.  But  after  all,  this  is 
Republicanism,  not  only  in  half  a  sense,  but  in  a 
dangerous  sense ;  and  although  upon  the  whole  a 
right  foundation  was  here  laid  for  the  future  course 
and  hope  of  the  nation,  yet  a  mass  of  ignorance  in  a 


118  IIAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

country  is  a  fearful  tiling,  and  the  danger  ot  abuse  in 
so  free  a  system,  under  such  circumstances,  by  un 
principled  and  designing  men,  is  always  great. 
Hence  the  withholding  the  initiative  right  from  the 
representative  body,  as  a  preliminary  step,  may  have 
been  wise  and  prudent.  Still,  Republican  freedom 
demands  the  universal  education  of  the  nation ;  and 
it  must  be  confessed,  that  this  has  ever  been  the 
national  error  of  Hayti.  There  has  ever  been  a  much 
greater  eagerness  for  the  free  institutions  of  the  age, 
than  for  that  universal  education  which  fits  a  people 
for  them.* 

During  this  year,  1816,  Fontanges  and  Esmongart 
landed  in  Hayti  as  a  deputation  from  the  French 
government, — another  proof  that  France  was  still 
looking  significantly  and  steadfastly  towards  their 
ancient  source  of  wealth,  and  was  still  bent  on  not 
giving  up  one  iota  of  what  she  deemed  her  rights. 

Esmongart,  in  addressing  his  despatches  to  King 
Christophe,  either  by  design  or  forget  fulness,  neg 
lected  to  recognise  the  monarch,  naming  him  simply 
General.  This  insult  was  received  as  might  have 
been  expected  by  a  man  to  whom  boldness  and  daring 
were  natural.  A  proclamation'  was  immediately 
issued  by  this  sovereign,  declaring  that  the  Haytians 
were  independent,  and  would  only  treat  with  France 
as  a  free  and  sovereign  nation. 

All  ended  here  with  Christophe  in  this  matter; 

*  It  has  been  specially  gratifying  to  see  in  Hayti  the  engraving 
of  the  university  building  at  Monrovia,  the  capital  of  the  republic 
of  Liberia.  It  is  sincerely  to  be  hoped  that  an  obligatory  univer 
sal  Christian  primary  education,  which  should  ^render  national 
ignorance  impossible,  has  preceded  and  constitutes  the  foundation 
of  this  great  and  laudable  achievement. 


FEOM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  119 

what  the  result  might  have  been,  had  Petion  pursued 
precisely  the  same  course,  is  not  at  all  easy  to  say, 
except  that  a  struggle  more  than  ever  terrible  with 
France,  might  have  resulted,  and  the  independence 
of  the  whole  of  the  French  part  of  the  island  have 
been  seriously  threatened ;  for  after  all,  the  bravery 
and  daring  of  the  Haytians,  in  their  former  contests 
with  the  French,  and  notwithstanding  also  the  fact, 
that  the  climate  fought  fearfully  for  them,  yet  it  is 
scarcely  to  be  supposed  that  a  population  of  simply 
seven  hundred  thousand  should  be  able  to  keep  up  a 
perpetual  war,  or  even  a  very  long  one,  with  a  nation 
of  thirty  millions,  commanding  so  entirely  all  the 
arts  of  war,  with  all  the  means  of  applying  them,  as 
was  unquestionably  the  case  with  the  French. 

Petion  had  evidently  considered  this  important 
question  in  all  its  bearings  and  in  the  maturest  man 
ner,  while  the  leading  minds  in  the  republic,  con 
sidering  that  there  was  more  or  less  justice  in  the 
claim  as  to  mere  landed  property,  and  that  war  would 
simply  be  ruinous,  wisely  concluded,  that  having 
already  done  wonders  for  so  small  a  nation,  against 
one  of  such  superior  power,  peace  would  now  be  per 
fectly  consistent  with  the  national  dignity.  An 
indemnity  was  therefore  offered  by  Petion ;  but  the 
French  deputation,  not  being  authorised  to  recognize 
the  independence  and  sovereignty  of  Hayti,  returned 
to  France  without  any  final  settlement  of  the  ques 
tion.  Nothing,  indeed,  had  been  definitely  arranged ; 
but  this  was  at  least  a  first  step  towards  a  final 
understanding  between  the  two  nations,  which  it 
must  be  admitted  was  in  every  way  desirable,  lor 
notwithstanding  the  power  of  France,  her  sacrifice 


120 

of  human  life,  etc.,  in  the  Haytian  contest,  had 
already  been  immense,  even  frightful;  and  yet  she 
had  lost  one  of  the  finest  colonies  she  had  ever  pos 
sessed.  In  fact,  the  position  of  so  great  a  nation  as 
that  of  France,  with  so  comparatively  small  a  one  as 
that  of  Hayti,  is  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  that 
has  ever  been  recorded  in  history.  Both,  however, 
felt  that  there  was  a  right  position  for  each  in  this 
great  matter,  and  hence  there  was  a  disposition  on 
all  sides  to  meet  the  case  in  a  frank  and  honest 
manner. 

During  the  year  1816,  the  great  and  celebrated 
hero  of  South  America,  Bolivar,  landed  in  Hayti,  and 
received  the  warmest  sympathies  of  Petion.  Hayti, 
indeed,  could  do  but  little  to  help  on  the  great  plans 
of  Bolivar,  yet  all  she  could  do  in  a  pecuniary  point 
of  view,  was  done,  and  it  can  easily  be  understood, 
that  two  such  kindred  spirits,  having  one  common 
aim  in  view,  would  deeply  and  warmly  sympathize 
with  each  other. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

First  Wesleyan  Missionaries. — "  L'Education  eleve  1'homne,"  etc. 
— Pressoir  Persecution. — Stoning,  etc.— New  Representative 
Body. — Mackenzie  on  the  Courts,  etc. — General  Education. — 
Amount  of  Exports  in  1818. — Fiscals. — Petion's  Funeral. — 
Boyer  President. — Christopher  Writes  to  Boyer. — Great  Public 
Fire. — Boyer  takes  the  North. — He  Takes  the  Eastern  Part. — 
The  Spelling-Book  and  the  Sword.— The  Age  blameable,  not 
Hay ti.— The  News-Papers  Published. 


The  nation's  mighty  mainspring  is  its  heart, 
Oft  form'd  and  ton'd  by  messengers  from  heav'n. 

IF  it  be  a  recognized  and  immutable  trutli  that 
whatever  be  the  intelligence  of  a  people,  or  even 
their  civilization  and  science,  without  moral  prin 
ciple  nothing  can  be  either  stable  or  prosperous  ; — 
then  we  may  hail,  as  one  of  the  most  important 
events  of  Haytian  history,  the  arrival  this  year,  1816, 
of  two  Protestant  Missionaries  of  the  English  Wes 
leyan  Methodist  Connexion — the  Revs.  J.  Brown  and 
J.  Cats. 

Roman  Catholic  Clergymen  of  sincerity  had  in 
deed  appeared  in  Hayti  before  these  worthy  men, 
but  the  country  still  needed  sincere  men  ; — their  ar 
rival  was  undoubtedly  well-timed,  and  these  men  of 
God  were  welcomed  in  Hayti  by  the  great  founder 
of  the  Republic,  who  had  desired  their  presence. 

The  fact  that  Petion  had  in  every  way  encouraged 
the  sending  out  of  these  Missionaries,  made  every- 


122  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

thing  plain  and  easy  for  them  on  their  arrival  ; 
hence,  they  met  with  neither  difficulty  nor  hinderance 
in  their  great  and  unsparing  labors,  which  were  by 
no  means  confined  to  the  city  of  Port-au-Prince  ;  for, 
like  their  great  founder,  they  widely  extended  their 
labors,  and  spread  the  leaven  of  Christian  truth 
far  and  near,  especially  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
capital,  and  the  effect  of  their  ministrations  was  evi 
dently  great ;  for,  the  people  feeling  themselves  en 
tirely  free  to  adopt  whatever  religious  views  and 
principles  they  might  conscientiously  become  con 
vinced  of  as  truth,  did  not  hesitate  to  avow  that 
conviction,  whenever  it  was  felt ;  hence,  a  Protest 
ant  Church  in  this  professedly  Roman  Catholic  com 
munity,  of  nearly  a  hundred  members,  was  soon 
formed,  and  the  infiuence  of  Christian  truth,  spoken 
by  men,  whose  aim  was  rather  to  change  the  heart 
and  life,  than  anything  else,  became  powerful,  and 
all  for  a  time  went  silently  on.* 

Among  the  many  aims  of  these  Christian  pioneers 
was  that  of  striking  at  the  root  of  vice  by  the  forma 
tion  of  a  public  school,  founded  on  purely  Christian 
principle;  hence,  according  to  usage,  they,  on  this  great 
subject,  addressed  their  own  special  friend,  the  Pres 
ident  of  the  Republic,  and  received  from  him  an  en 
tirely  hearty  approval  of  their  benevolent  object. 

One  of  the  sentences  found  in  the  reply  of  the 
President  to  the  address  of  the  Wesleyan.  Mission 
aries,  on  the  subject  of  public  education,  is  alto 
gether  noble,  and  deserves  special  notice,  being  so 

*  It  is  to  be  borne  in  mind  here,  that  at  that  time  there  was  no 
Concordat  with  the  Church  of  Rome  ;  Petion  had  simply  in  view 
the  diffusion  of  Christianity. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  123 

completely  of  a  piece  with  all   that  is  known   of 
Petion  ;  it  is  as  follows  : 

4'  L'  education  eleve  Thomme,  a  la  dignite  de  son  etre !"  * 

Daring  the  days  of  Petion,  all  was  well ;  the  pros 
perity  of  this  Mission  was  to  him  altogether  agreeable ; 
he  evidently  wished  the  advance  of  plain  truth  ; 
his  thoughts  reached  beyond  the  narrow  limits  of 
sectarianism ;  but  this  happy  and  peaceful  career,  as 
to  the  Wesleyan  Mission,  now  so  evidently  the  off 
spring  of  Petion's  own  idea,  did  not  long  continue  ; 
for,  on  the  18th  March,  1818,  the  illustrious  patron 
and  friend  of  this  neuclus  of  simple,  living,  Christian 
truth,  terminated  by  death  his  mortal  career,  and  the 
reins  of  power  fell  into  the  hands  of  General  Jean 
Pierre  Boyer. 

This  painful  event — the  death  of  Petion — -brought 
on  an  entire  change  of  action  and  policy  throughout 
all  the  interests  and  bearing  of  the  nation. 

Had  the  views  and  feelings  of  the  new  President 
been  the  same  as  those  of  his  honorable  and  dis 
tinguished  predecessor,  his  power  and  influence  would 
unquestionably  have  been  sufficient  to  protect  those 
honest  pastors  and  their  little  flocks,  at  least  from  in 
sult  ;  but  Petion's  protecting  arm  had  no  sooner 
fallen  under  the  power  of  death,  than  the  symptoms 
of  vastly  different  thoughts  and  feelings  began  to  de- 
velope  themselves  ;  religious  bigotry  had  simply  been 
pent  up  by  the  power  and  patronage  of  the  former 
President,  whose  views  on  religious  liberty,  as  well 
as  the  real  moral  wants  of  his  people,  had  evidently 
been  very  much  in  advance  of  those  of  his  successor. 

*  Education  raises  man  to  the  dignity  of  his  being  ! 


124: 


HAYTTAN    INDEPENDENCE, 


At  the  death  of  Petion,  therefore,  a  persecution 
broke  out  and  continued  for  some  little  time. 

Wheel-barrows  full  of  stones  were  wheeled  to  the 
places  where  the  meetings  were  held,  and  a  senseless 
and  enraged  populace  seemed  to  be  left  to  their  own 
blind,  will  and  fury ;  stones  were  hurled,  doors  and 
windows  broken  in,  and  innocent  and  honest  people, 
in  the  name  of  law,  were  taken  off  to  prison. 

In  this  age  of  the  world  we  read  these  things  with 
humiliation,  and  yet  such  has  been  the  history  of  the 
introduction  of  Christian  truth,  in  its  simplicity, 
among  all  peoples,  in  all  ages. 

The  Wesleyan  Missionaries,  at  the  advice  of  Presi 
dent  Boyer,  and  also  of  their  own  affectionate  and 
devoted  people,  who,  having  received  the  truth  into 
their  hearts,  could  not  endure  to  see  their  pastors  in 
sulted,  withdrew  and  returned  to  Europe — President 
Boyer  having,  in  the  most  honorable  manner,  guar 
anteed  the  Home  Committee  of  the  Wesleyan  Mis- 
signs  as  to  all  expenses. 

In  the  absence  of  the  Missionaries,  now  in  a  sense 
banished,  Mr.  J.  C.  Pressoir  came  forward  as  the 
head  of  this  little  Christian  band  ;  and,  having  him 
self  escaped,  being  put  in  prison,  went  to  the  Palace 
as  the  bearer  of  a  letter,  which  was  addressed  to 
the  President  by  one  of  the  thirty- two  who  had  been 
imprisoned.* 

On  the  appearance  of  Pressoir  before  the  Presi 
dent,  his  Excellency  accused  the  Methodists  as 

*  One  of  the  number  imprisoned  was  St.  D.  Bauduy,  who  sub 
sequently  spent  four  years  in  Europe  at  the  request  of  the  Wes- 
leyan  Missionary  Committee,  and  then  returned  to  Hayti  as  one 
of  their  ordained  Ministers. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  125 

"  fanatics !"  The  bearer  of  the  letter  replied,  "  Par 
don  me,  President,  they  are  not !"  "  Why,"  said 
the  President,  "  you  have  changed  your  religion !" 
The  letter-bearer  again  replied  :  "  If  I  have  changed 
my  religion,  President,  it  is  the  Government  which 
has  led  me  to  do  so."  "  How  so  ?"  demanded  his 
Excellency.  Pressoir's  reply  was  :  "  It  was  the  late 
President  who  sent  for  the  Missionaries ;  I  read  the 
letter  and  saw  the  President's  signature."  u  Enough ! 
enough!"  replied  the  President,  "I  will  send  an 
answer !" 

The  parties  in  prison  were  soon  released  after  this 
interview,  but  with  orders  not  to  assemble  any  more ; 
they  were  told  that  they  might  worship  God  indi 
vidually  as  they  pleased,  but  that  the  Government 
had  given  orders  to  disperse  all  meetings  ;  the  meet 
ings,  however,  were  continued,  but  with  every  effort 
to  avoid  every  thing  like  an  air  of  defiance,  by  mak 
ing  their  assemblies,  for  a  time,  as  private  as  pos 
sible  ;  yet  the  stoning  and  brutal  usage  continued, 
, until  at  last  a  proclamation  was  issued  from  "La 
Place,"  ordering  the  people  to  cease  stoning,  etc.  • 
and,  at  the  same  time,  forbidding  the  Methodists  to 
meet  together.  By  degrees,  peace  was  established ; 
and,  by  the  firmness  and  unswerving  fidelity  of  these 
faithful  people,  whose  undaunted  sincerity  and 
honest  steadfastness,  both  to  God  and  their  own  con 
sciences,  remained  immoveable  under  every  storm, 
the  great  boon  of  religious  liberty  was  ultimately 
secured.  Such  has  been  the  cost  of  religious  liberty 
in  all  past  ages  of  the  world :  the  future  may  be 
wiser ! 

Painful  as  this  case  of  persecution  was,  it  is  impos- 


*126  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

sible  that  it  should  be  any  matter  of  surprise ;  it  was 
simply  the  clashing  of  opposing  elements,  precisely 
such  as  has  been  realized  in  all  countries  and  in  alt 
ages. 

That  Boyer  had  the  same  power  as  his  predecessor, 
to  protect  and  patronize  the  Protestant  Ministers,  is 
beyond  all  contradiction,  but  he  evidently  differed 
from  Petion  ;  this  will  appear  plainly  from  his 
language  and  style  to  Pressoir,  which  were  precisely 
the  opposite  to  anything  that  Petion  would  have 
done  or  said.  Boyer,  as  a  decided  Roman  Catholic, 
probably  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  oppose  the  intro 
duction  and  progress  of  Protestantism  in  the  Repub 
lic;  or,  as  a  statesman,  he  probably  supposed  that 
the  presence  of  such  opposing  elements  in  the  na 
tion  might  ultimately  engender  unhappiness  ;  doubt 
less  his  judgment  led  him  to  conclusions  opposite  to 
those  of  Petion,  and  he  probably  deemed  it  an  error 
in  his  predecessor  to  have  brought  such  an  element 
into  the  country  at  all ;  hence  he  did  not  protect, 
simply  because  his  views  were  different,  not  because 
he  could  not;  posterity,  therefore,  will  judge  be-* 
tween  Petion  and  Boyer  in  this  matter. 

It  is  true  that  religious  persecution  at  any  time,  or 
for  any  reason,  is  a  senseless  thing,  and  always  de 
feats  its  own  purpose ;  yet,  it  must  be  remembered, 
that  this  has  always  been  the  old  routine  of  things  ; 
hence,  Wesley's  case  in  England,  not  so  very  far 
back,  was  much  worse  than  the  one  under  consider 
ation,  more  brutal,  and  far  more  unnatural;  the 
latter  being  the  persecution  of  Protestants  by 
Protestants. 

But  Hayti  was  still  marching  on  in  her  national 


FROM  HISTORICAL   NOTES,  127 

career ;  and  in  1817  the  great  experiment  was  tried, 
of  a  newly  organized  House  of  Representatives,  as 
another  branch  of  the  Legislature.  Hitherto  the 
country  had  been  governed  by  a  Senatorial  body, 
which  was  understood  to  represent  and  express  the 
mind  of  the  people,  that  Legislative  corps  having 
been  elected  by  them  ;  but  the  prestige  of  the  Court 
had,  no  doubt,  suffered  from  its  violent  dissolution 
by  President  Petion;  whatever,  or  wherever  may 
have  been  the  error  which  led  to  a  Dictatorship,  on 
the  part  of  the  Executive,  future  times  will,  doubt 
less,  view  the  case  in  its  proper  light,  and  give  it  its 
proper  merits,  but  the  assurance  which  will  ever  be 
felt  that  Petion  in  this,  as  well  as  every  other  public 
affair,  was  perfectly  honest  in  his  motives  and  ulti 
mate  intentions,  even  though  his  judgment  may  have 
been  faulty. 

The  new  branch  now  added  to  the  Legislature,  at 
least  helped  to  complete  the  theory  of  a  good  sys 
tem  of  Government,  by  bringing  in  another  fair 
balance  against  the  Executive  ;  it  is,  however,  to  be 
remembered  that  the  initiative  of  all  measures  was 
with  the  Executive. 

It  will  be  remembered  that,  during  the  life-time  of 
Petion,  the  Constitution  underwent  one  or  two  re 
visions,  and  that  its  last  touch  took  place  in  1816, 
after  which  it  remained  the  same  for  many  years. 

The  general  Institutions,  based  upon  the  Consti 
tution  of  the  last  revision,  are  well  described  by  an 
English  traveler,*  who  visited  Hayti  only  a  few 
years  after  the  death  of  the  first  President,  and  of 
which  we  here  give  the  following  extract : 

*  Mackenzie. 


128  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

"  The  affairs  of  the  Government  are  directed  by  the  Presi 
dent,  who  holds  the  office  for  life ;  he  must  have  attained  his 
thirty -fifth  year  before  his  election  to  office  ;  he  has  the  righq. 
of  naming  a  successor,  which  is  subject  to  the  approval  of  the 
Senate ;  he  commands  the  national  forces,  and  watches  over 
the  Tribunals  by  his  Commissaries,  whose  offices  are  held 
during  his  pleasure  ;  he  proposes  to  the  Commons  all  laws,  ex 
cept  those  connected  with  taxation  ;  he  makes  foreign  treaties 
and  war,  under  the  sanction  of  the  Senate ;  he  directs  the  re 
ceipts,  and  issues  the  public  taxes, — the  Senate  and  the  High 
Court  of  Justice  having  the  power  to  demand  an  account  of  his 
administration. 

';  The  details  of  the  administration  are  carried  on  in  three 
departments. 

"  First,  that  of  Secretary-General,  whose  duties  are  very  ex 
tensive  and  varied. 

"Secondly,  that  of  Secretary  of  State  for  Finances  and  the 
Treasury,  and  all  fiscal  matters  belonging  to  this  department. 

"  The  third  department  immediately  forming  a  portion  of  the 
Government,  is  under  the  'Grand  Juge,' who  is  the  Chief  of 
all  the  Judicial  establishments. 

"  This  High  Court  of  Justice  can  only  be  constituted  to  act 
by  a  proclamation  from  the  Senate  ;  it  must  be  held  in  a  place 
designated  for  its  sittings,  which  must  not  be  more  than  twelve 
leagues  from  the  Senate ;  it  is  composed  of,  at  least,  fifteen 
Judges,  taken  by  lot  from  the  different  departmental  tribunals. 

"  The  Grand  Judge  presides,  except  he  is  then  himself  under 
accusation,  in  which  case  another  is  selected  by  the  President. 

"  There  being  no  appeal  from  this  Court,  the  accused  has  the 
right  of  rejecting  one-third  of  his  judges,  and  two-thirds  only 
can  condemn. 

"  The  Senate  consists  of  twenty-four  members  ;  all  citizens 
are  elegible,  except  the  actual  members  of  the  Chamber  of 
Deputies ;  the  choice  is  made  by  the  Deputies,  out  of  a  list  of 
three  names  for  each  vacancy,  by  private  ballot ;  the  sessions 
are  private  or  public,  as  may  be;  each  Senator  receives  a 
salary. 

"•  The  Representatives  are  chosen  by  universal  suffrage,  the 


FKOM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  129 

mode  of  election  being  by  ballot ;  no  law  can  bo  effective,  of 
which  the  project  has  not  originated  with  the  Executive. 

"The  Court  of  Cassation  revises  the  decisions  of  other 
Courts,  and  decides  on  the  application  of  the  laws,  in  the  case 
in  which  it  had  been  previously  made. 

"The  'Chambre  des  Comptes'  consists  of  five  members, 
whose  duty  it  is  to  examine  into,  and  report  on  every  branch 
of  the  expenditure  and  collection  of  the  revenue  to  the  Presi 
dent,  as  well  as  to  suggest  their  views  of  reform  and  im 
provement. 

"  The  internal  Government  of  the  Republic  is  managed  in 
the  following  manner  : 

u  The  whole  Island  is  divided  into  seventy-six  Communes, 
and  thirty- four  Parishes;  these  are  classed  under  twenty-seven 
^Military  Arrondissements  and  six  Departments;  each  Depart 
ment  is  generally  commanded  by  a  General  in  the  army  ;  he 
exercises  both  military  and  civil  authority,  and  is  the  medium 
through  which  the  Government  makes  known  its  arrange 
ments. 

"  Besides  the  high  Court  of  Justice,  and  that  of  Cassation, 
there  are  eight  Local,  Civil  and  Communal  Tribunals  ;  this  gra 
dation  of  inferior  Courts  is  established  in  the  Capitals  of  the 
Districts. 

"  Trial  by  Jury  is  established. 

"The  decisions  of  the  'Juge  de  Paix,'  without  Jury,  are 
final,  within  the  amount  of  fifty  dollars ;  the  functions  and 
powers  of  the  'Juge  de  Paix'  are  necessarily  very  extensive."* 

On  the  subject  of  Education,  in  its  widest  sense, 
in  the  country,  about  this  time,  although  but  little 
can  be  said,  it  must  be  admitted  that  provision,  at 
least  to  some  extent,  had  been  made  ;  but  it  must  be 
remembered  that  the  education  of  the  masses  was  an 
idea  which,  even  in  the  most  advanced  portions  of  the 
human  race  was,  at  that  time,  but  just  struggling 

*  \  arious  modifications  have  since  been  made,  especially  in 
State  Secretaryship,  etc.  ;  but  the  general  framework  of  Haytian 
institutions  remains  much  the  same. 


130  HATTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

into  existence.  Hayti's  model,  at  this  time,  was 
Europe,  where  the  education  of  the  masses  was  much 
more  feared  than  sought. 

But  little,  therefore,  can  be  said  on  the  subject  of 
popular  Education  at  this  stage  of  Haytian  history. 

Nevertheless,  Petion  founded  and  established  the 
Lyceum,  which,  for  a  number  of  years,  was  a  good 
and  efficient  College,  and  for  a  long  time  furnished 
good  and  useful  education  to  many  of  the  youth  of 
the  Republic ;  its  range  of  operation  was  limited, 
compared  with  the  wide-spread  wants  of  the  nation ; 
yet,  it  must  be  admitted,  that  many  men  of  talent 
ultimately  rose  from  that  institution,  and  became 
of  great  use  to  their  country. 

It  would,  however,  be  scarcely  expected  that 
Hayti  should  have  been  in  advance  of  Europe,  on 
the  question  of  the  education  of  the  masses ;  nor, 
ought  it  to  be  lost  sight  of,  that  the  United  States  of 
America  was  absolutely  nothing  to  Hayti  at  this 
time,  precisely  as  Hayti  was  less  than  nothing  to 
them,  the  reasons  on  each  side  being  very  easily 
understood. 

Still,  in  the  general  theory  of  Haytian  institutions, 
schools  have  always  been  provided,  and  it  is  even 
supposed,  theoretically,  that  the  entire  nation  is 
under  educational  care ;  the  sad  fact,  however,  re 
mains  that  the  great  bulk  of  the  people  are  but  little 
advanced  in  either  reading  or  writing,  from  what 
they  ever  were ;  it  has,  indeed,  been  the  case  in 
Hayti,  as  it  is  in  the  greater  part  of  Europe  to  this 
day,  that  Education,  even  in  its  primary  department, 
has  never  been  raised  to  its  proper  level  of  import 
ance  and  respectability ;  which  painful  fact,  together 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  131 

with  that  indifference  to  education,  which  is  only 
natural  to  an  ignorant  people,  constitutes  the  expla 
nation  of  the  present  condition  of  the  masses  of 
Hayti. 

That  so  vital  a  point  as  that  of  an  universal  edu 
cation  should  ever  have  been  lost  sight  of  in  a 
thoroughly  free  Republic,  where  every  citizen  is  ex 
pected  to  understand  what  he  is,  is  deeply  painful ; 
nor  can  such  a  state  of  things  be  justified,  whatever 
may  have  been  the  difficulties ;  real  heart  and 
conscience  in  this  great  matter  would,  unquestion 
ably,  have  overcome  anything. 

It  might,  indeed,  be  said  that  continual  wars, 
either  intestine  or  foreign,  render  the  instruction  of 
the  masses  impossible ;  nor  is  it  to  be  denied  that 
the  difficulties  were  very  great ;  but  in  a  Republic, 
where  every  man  that  could  read  ought  to  have 
taught  him  that  could  not,  any  obstacle  might,  and 
ought  to  have  been  overcome ;  in  fact,  a  determined 
national  aim  at  and  perseverence  in  such  a  work, 
would  have  overcome  every  thing,  and  levelled  the 
highest  mountain  of  difficulty ;  the  masses  of  Hayti 
would  thus  have  been  saved  from  being  the  mere 
dupes  of  unprincipled  and  designing  men,  who  have 
too  frequently  tarnished  the  reputation  of  their  coun 
try  before  the  world,  and  disappointed  every  hope  by 
revolutionary  promises,  more  hollow  than  the  wind. 

It  has  often  been  a  matter  of  surprise  among  the 
friends  of  Hayti  that  the  bearing  of  primary  educa 
tion  upon  the  masses  of  the  people,  in  relation  to 
general  activity,  the  creation  of  wants,  and  its  conse 
quent  bearing  upon  general  commerce,  has  never 
been  practically  recognized ;  the  interests  of  every 


132  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

man  in  business  demands  that  the  wants  of  the  peo 
ple  should  be  increased  to  the  utmost,  while  stagna 
tion  of  every  kind  must  necessarily  result  from 
settled  ignorance ;  yea,  the  richest  resources  of  nature 
must  remain  closed,  while  the  key  of  universal  edu 
cation  is  withheld. 

Of  Agriculture,  much  might  be  said ;  gigantic 
plans,  at  all  times  and  under  all  circumstances  of  the 
country,  have  been  drawn  up  to  sustain  and  extend 
this  important  branch  of  industry ;  in  fact,  the  im 
portance  of  this  great  national  source  of  wealth  has 
always  been  largely  spoken  of  in  Hayti. 

The  French  Colonists  had  succeeded  in  the  raising  of 
general  produce  to  a  degree  which  was  even  aston 
ishing,  but  it  was  the  effect  of  slavery  in  its  worst 
form  and  highest  degree  of  brutality. 

Toussaint  L'Ouverture  was  sufficiently  enlightened 
to  see  the  immense  importance  of  national  and  agri 
cultural  industry ;  hence,  he  drove  on  the  culture  of 
the  staple  exports  of  the  country,  but  this  was  done 
by  the  most  stringent  regulations  possible,  which, 
doubtless,  under  all  the  circumstances  of  the  case, 
were  necessary. 

Dessalines  also  wielded  a  mighty  and  terrific 
power  to  keep  up  the  agricultural  energies  of  the 
country ;  and,  although  he  succeeded  in  raising  pro 
duce  to  a  great  amount,  yet  he  himself  at  last  sunk 
under  the  weight  of  his  own  brutalities. 

Nor,  were  General  Rigaud's  efforts,  in  the  South 
ern  part  of  the  Island,  unworthy  of  notice  on  this 
great  question  of  general  agriculture. 

Christophe's  iron  rule  terrified  his  unhappy  sub 
jects  into  great  activity,  and  the  results  were  great ; 


FROM!   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  133 

yet  the  madness  of  his  efforts,  even  in  the  cause  of  in 
dustry,  quenched  ultimately  all  his  hopes  of  glory 
and  power,  and  served  as  a  warning  lesson  to  all 
posterity.  All  these  men,  be  it  remembered,  had 
taken  for  their  industrial  standard  the  forced  pro 
duce  and  results  of  slavery ;  and,  therefore,  they 
could  not  realize  their  aims  without  an  undue  and 
unjust  force  in  one  form  or  another. 

Later,  what  were  called  rural  codes  were  attempt 
ed,  with  a  view  to  bring  out  more  fully  the  energies 
of  the  people ;  but  with  regard  to  these  codes,  as  they 
are  generally  understood,  no  really  enlightened  peo 
ple  would  ever  submit  to  them. 

A  system  which  will  not  allow  a  free  man  to  come 
into  a  town  during  certain  days  in  the  week,  etc., 
etc.,  is  rather  childish  in  its  idea,  and  therefore  sup 
poses  a  degraded  people. 

The  code  rural,  therefore,  should  be  the  Christian 
school-master ;  let  him  temper  the  mental  and  moral 
springs  of  the  nation  ;  let  him  bring  the  rising  gene 
ration  up  to  their  right  level,  and  such  wants  will 
ultimately  be  felt  as  will  put  all  in  action ;  such  a 
"  code  rural"  would  need,  comparatively,  small  ex 
pense  as  to  military  or  even  civil  police. 

Petion  and  his  Republic  show  us  the  opposite  of 
all  that  we  have  now  noticed ;  and,  although  this 
doubtless  is  partly  to  be  accounted  for  by  the  mild 
character  of  the  man,  yet  the  absence  of  a  salutary 
energy  throughout  his  administration — which  the 
best  friends  of  Petion  must  admit  was  the  case — was 
injurious  to  the  true  interests  of  the  country ;  had 
Petion  been  more  energetical,  more,  doubtless,  might 
have  been  done. 


HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

Policy  was,  perhaps,  one  of  the  secrets  of  Petion's 
mildness  ;  he  wished  to  establish  a  contrast  between 
the  free  Republic  and  the  oppressive  Northern  Mon 
archy,  such  as  should  sap  its  foundations  and  bring  it 
down  ;  and,  it  must  be  admitted,  that  the  general 
bearing  of  the  Republic,  proved  in  the  end  the  utter 
overthrow  of  Christophe  and  his  tyranny.  A  bolder 
aim  at  doing  what  was  simply  right  might  have  made 
Petion  still  more  popular  than  he  justly  was,  and 
have  given  a  healthier  tone  to  his  country  ;  yet,  not 
withstanding  the  great  laxity  of  the  system  of  that 
day,  it  must  not  be  supposed  that  the  culture  of  the 
soil  was  wholly  neglected ;  hence,  we  are  informed 
that  in  1818  the  export  of  coffee  amounted  to 
26,000,000  Ibs. ;  compared  with  the  forced  labor  of 
1789,  which  produced  76,000,000,  this  was  indeed 
small,  although  in  fact  it  was  really  more ;  for,  it 
must  be  remembered  that  the  twenty-six  millions  of 
coffee  was  raised  simply  within  Petion's  range  of 
power,  which  was  even  less  than. half  the  French 
part  of  the  Island,  the  Southern  part  being  still  more 
or  less  unsettled.  It  is  also  specially  to  be  noted  that 
a  military  system,  then  essentially  necessary  to  the 
very  existence  of  the  nation,  weighed  upon  the  en 
tire  population. 

With  these  considerations  before  us,  it  will  soon 
appear  very  plainly  that  the  produce  of  labor  under 
the  free  Republic  was  greater  than  under  the  ini 
quitous  power  of  the  Colonial  system. 

In  1818,  the  export  of  dye  woods  amounted  to 
upwards  of  6,000,000  Ibs.,  principally  from  the  South, 
which,  although  still  suffering  from  past  confusion, 
was  now  united  to  the  Western  Republic. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  135 

This,  although,  but  a  limited  view  of  the  exports 
generally,  will  at  least  afford  proof  that  a  fair 
amount  of  industry  was  kept  up  in  the  country,  not 
withstanding  its  general  circumstances  must  have 
been  anything  but  favorable  to  national  produce. 

Christophe  had  forced  on  labor  and  had  done  much 
more  than  his  neighbors ;  but,  it  is  a  painful  fact, 
that  his  whole  reign  seemed  like  one  unceasing  effort 
to  drive  both  himself  and  his  Monarchy  out  of 
existence. 

The  range  of  industry  now  before  us,  which  does 
not  include  the  Spanish  part  of  the  Island,  offers, 
although  in  fragments,  an  aggregate  of  result  not 
unworthy  of  attention,  especially  when  the  great  dif 
ficulties  arising  from  arms  and  war  are  considered. 

On  the  subject  of  general  commerce,  it  must  be 
remembered  that  the  Haytian  people,  even  at  the 
death  of  Petion,  were  only  just  struggling  out  of 
chaos  into  order ;  still,  their  wants  were  many  as  to 
household  furniture,  clothing,  and  various  articles  of 
consumption,  such  as  flour,  salt  fish,  beef,  pork,  but 
ter,  lard,  soap,  candles,  etc.,  etc. ;  hence,  the  States 
and  Europe  soon  learnt  that  the  Haytian  harbors 
now  offered  good  markets ;  thus  affording  abundant 
proof  that  the  Haytians,  notwithstanding  the  most 
paralyzing  difficulties,  had  began  the  work  of  finan 
cial  accumulation  in  the  form  of  general  produce,  for 
the  purpose  of  their  national  and  individual  wants ; 
hence,  the  commercial  flags  of  nearly  all  nations 
were  soon  seen  in  the  Haytian  waters,  while  those 
also  of  war  acknowledged,  by  their  friendly  salutes, 
the  dignity  of  Haytian  Independence. 

In  fact,  the  career  of  the  Haytian  nation  was  now 


136  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

fairly  begun.  It  is  true  the  Haytian  people,  at  this 
time,  existed  in  two  great  divisions,  one  of  which 
was  a  Republic,  and  the  other  a  Monarchy  ;  but  the 
great  emulation  which  existed  between  the  parties 
unquestionably  drove  them  on  as  a  people  ;  for,  what 
ever  may  have  been  their  divisions,  they  were,  after 
all,  the  Haytian  people. 

With  regard  to  fiscal  arrangements,  it  will  easily 
be  understood  that  an  organized  system  of  paid  Gov 
ernment  functionaries,  civil  and  military,  would 
necessarily  require  a  circulating  medium. 

The  monetary  standard  was,  doubtless,  the  Spanish 
dubloon  ;  but,  as  the  whole  financial  system  of  those 
days  was  rather  in  embryo  than  otherwise,  the  de 
tails  for  the  present  may  not  be  altogether  essential ; 
it  will  be  enough  for  us  to  understand  for  the  present 
that,  with  a  suitable  starting  point,  the  force  of  ne 
cessity  would  do  all  the  rest* 

The  military  system  in  those  days  was,  in  the  most 
unlimited  sense,  national ;  in  fact,  the  whole  nation 
of  that  day  might  be  viewed  as  an  entire  military 
carnp — every  Haytian,  capable  of  bearing  arms 
against  the  French,  had  been  needed ;  nor,  in  fact, 
could  the  nation  have  existed  at  all,  in  the  beginning, 
but  upon  this  principle.  This  dreadful  and  ruinous 
necessity  \vas  continued  as  a  defence  against  Chris- 
tophe,  whose  fury  would  now  and  then  break  forth 
from  the  North,  while,  at  the  same  time,  the  diffi 
culties  in  the  South  had  not  ceased ;  nor,  indeed, 
was  all  yet  clear  with  France. 

*  A  paper  currency  was  early  introduced  into  Hayti,  the  Hay 
tian  dollar  being  then  at  par  with  the  Spanish. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  137 

Let  any  impartial  mind,  from  this  point  of  Haytian 
history,  take  a  fair  and  honest  view  of  the  Haytians 
as  a  people. 

Like  the  ancient  Britons,  the  Haytians  were  origi 
nally  slaves,  but  of  African  hue,  and  the  living  property 
of  white  French  masters.  A  class  of  mixed  blood 
was  the  result,  and  this  class  is  known  in  the  English 
West  Indies  as  colored,  distinct  in  color  from  the 
Blacks.  In  Hayti,  under  the  Colonial  system,  none 
of  the  colored  people  were  considered  equal  to  their 
own  white  fathers ;  nor  was  the  case  altered  in  those 
who  had  been  sent  to  Europe,  and  had  returned  with 
cultivated  and  expanded  minds,  many  of  them  quite 
superior  to  their  sires.  It  was  enough  in  this  case  that 
the  son  was  darker  than  the  father ;  this,  one  would 
suppose,  must  have  been  deemed  a  crime  ;  hence,  on 
this  account,  his  claims  to  the  honor  and  rank  of  a 
man  were  spurned  with  indignation ;  but  educated 
human  nature  was  not  to  be  trampled  under  foot  in 
this  manner.  The  instincts  of  the  enlightened  mind, 
in  this  case,  took  fire,  and  the  son  dared  the  father  in 
his  daring  wrong  ;  in  fact,  all  reasoning  ended. 

The  French  nation,  just  at  this  juncture,  pro 
claimed  all  men  equal  and  free ;  the  European  edu 
cated  son  of  Hayti,  therefore,  on  his  return  to  his 
native  land,  in  defiance  of  gallows,  rack  and  sword, 
asserted  his  claims  to  all  that  belonged  to  him  as  a 
man ;  a  claim  which  posterity  will  most  certainly 
applaud ;  in  fact,  this  was  already  accorded  in 
France  ;  and,  notwithstanding  all  opposing  power  on 
the  part  of  the  white  fathers  of  colored  sons  in  St. 
Domingue,  the  standard  of  freedom  was  raised  on 
those  shores,  and  those  bloody  scenes,  in  which 


138  IIAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

freedom  and  slavery  met  in  awful  conflict,  resulted 
and  continued  until  the  final  extirpation  of  every 
vestige  of  slavery.  To  this  great  work  every  Hay- 
tian  heart  beat  true ;  before  the  monster,  Slavery,  all 
was  union  ;  one  and  the  same  feeling  fired  every 
heart  while  they  were  engaged  in  trampling  out  of 
existence  this  foe  to  human  happiness  and  honor; 
but, .the  demon  of  discord  remained  among  them  ; 
and,  however  unhappy  this  may  have  been,  it  was 
human  ;  hence,  the  course  pursued  by  the  Haytians 
themselves  was  only  the  old  beaten  track  of  envy, 
hatred  and  malice ;  nor  was  the  anarchy,  blood-shed 
and  fury  of  the  French  Revolution,  in  any  sense  less 
than  that  of  Hayti,  to  say  nothing  of  other  nations, 
ancient  or  modern  ;  in  fact,  order  is  to  be  found  in 
the  very  divisions  among  the  Haytians;  hence, 
Rigaud,  who  commanded  independently  in  the  South 
ern  part  of  the  Island,  did  not  live  without  even  a 
well-organized  state  of  things,  and  had  succeeded  in 
establishing  a  high  tone  of  industry. 

Petion's  Republic,  although  more  spontaneous  in 
all  its  action,  and  free  from  everything  despotic,  war, 
nevertheless,  a  well-arranged  and  even  admirable 
community ;  the  general  elements  of  an  advanced 
civilization  were  there ;  good  laws  and  free  institu 
tions  constituted  the  glory  of  the  Republic. 

Christophe,  also,  in  the  North,  as  we  have  seen, 
•was  not  wanting  in  high  aims,  notwithstanding  a 
cruelty  and  tyranny,  which  was  the  grief  of  his  best 
friends. 

It  may,  indeed,  be  said  that  these  elements  of  civi 
lization  were  left  among  the  Haytians  by  their 
superior  French  masters ;  but  this  is  simply  saying 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  139 

that  civilization  is  transmitted  from  one  nation  to 
another,  and  from  one  generation  to  another ;  errors, 
doubtless,  abounded  on  all  sides,  but  without  this 
they  scarcely  would  have  been  human. 

Hayti,  therefore,  notwithstanding  storms  without 
and  within,  floated,  and  firmly  braved  one  of  the 
most  stormy  seas  by  which  any  nation  was  ever 
tossed ;  and,  although  rent  by  internal  discord,  she 
has  stood.  One  thing  she  has,  indeed,  ever  needed  ; 
had  her  national  sinews  been  strengthened  by  sound 
moral  culture,  her  course  might  have  been  a  giant 
one  ;  but  this  was  undeniably  wanting,  and  hence 
the  vital  springs  of  her  noblest  interests  were  weak 
ened  ;  still,  she  held  on  her  way,  and  concentrated 
her  power  in  the  South,  while  the  rule  of  Christophe, 
in  the  North,  began  to  reel  before  the  common  sense 
of  Republican  liberty. 

President  Petion  was  buried  on  the  31st  of  March, 
1818.  On  the  previous  day,  Jean  Pierre  Boyer  was 
elected  President  of  the  Haytian  Republic,  and  on 
the  following  first  of  April,  his  public  inauguration 
to  office  took  place,  when  he  swore  fidelity  to  the 
constitution  and  people  of  Hayti. 

To  a  mind  fully  and  honestly  bent  on  the  elevation 
of  the  masses,  which  ought  to  be  the  chief  aim  of 
the  first  magistrate  of  a  Republic,  a  fairer  field  than 
that  which  now  opened  to  President  Boyer  could 
not  well  be  imagined,  nor  can  there  be  any  doubt 
that  such  an  aim,  heartily  carried  out,  would  have 
raised  both  himself  and  his  Republic  to  that  true 
dignity  which  ought  to  be  the  aim  of  national  exist 
ence.  Such  was  the  aim  of  the  great  North  Ameri 
can  Republic,  nor  has  it  failed  in  its  transcendent 


140  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

effect.  This  too,  should  have  been  the  aim  of  Hayti, 
and  whatever  excuse  may  be  found  in  her  difficulties 
on  this  subject,  her  great  mission  as  an  African 
representative  nation,  demanded  this ;  nor  will  she 
ever  be  fully  j  ustified  before  mankind  for  the  fact 
that  the  great  mass  of  her  people  are  ignorant.  Yet 
where  shall  we  look  in  Haytian  history  to  be  con 
vinced  and  satisfied  that  an  attempt  has  ever  been 
seriously  made  to  abolish  ignorance  every  where  ? 

Internal  and  external  peace  long  reigned  about 
this  period  of  Haytian  history,  and  the  way  for  the 
great  work  of  national  education  was  open.  An 
attempt  at  such  a  work,  or  some  sincere  expression 
of  desire  for  its  accomplishment,  is  the  least  that  the 
present  generation  could  have  expected.  Nor  does 
it  seem  possible  to  avoid  the  painful  conclusion  that 
this  neglect  was  a  part  even  of  the  policy  of  the  day, 
upon  the  principle  that  it  was  easier  to  govern 
ignorance  than  knowledge.  This  unquestionably 
had  long  been  a  ruling  thought  in  Europe,  hence 
the  light  through  the  masses  was  rather  feared 
than  sought. 

Boyer  had  indeed  been  trained  in  this  school ;  he 
was  intelligent,  and  was  high  in  the  polish  of  French 
manners ;  nor  is  it  astonishing  that  his  model  in  all 
things  should  have  been  the  French  nation.  France 
alone,  at  that  time,  had  broken  the  chains  of  slavery  ; 
and  although  treachery  had  subsequently  come  in, 
the  source  of  liberty  to  Hayti  was  France,  while 
both  England  and  America  still  held  on  to  slavery. 

But  an  intelligent  man,  adopting  Republicanism, 
is  supposed  to  have  at  heart  all  that  elevates  man 
kind.  In  fact,  he  is  supposed  to  mean,  with  all 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  141 

sincerity,  that  every  member  of  a  nation  should  be  a 
man,  in  the  full  and  right  sense.  Most  unquestion 
ably  had  this  been  the  real  spirit  of  Haytian  Repub 
licanism  from  the  beginning,  it  would  have  been 
done ;  nor  can  Hayti  ever  be  a  nation  or  a  true 
republic  without  it. 

In  the  course  of  June,  during  1818,  Christophe 
sent  a  deputation  to  the  new  President  of  the  Western 
Republic  proposing  the  amalgamation  of  the  two 
communities,  of  course  under  his  crown  and  flag. 
These  men  were  kindly  received,  but  the  effort 
proved  abortive,  and  was  viewed  by  the  Republicans 
more  with  contempt  than  otherwise. 

The  following  year,  the  insurgents  of  La  Grande 
Anse,  who  for  many  years  had  given  great  trouble 
to  the  Republic,  fraternized  with  the  West ;  and  in 
fact  the  past  unhappiness  of  the  country  began  now  to 
subside  into  ease  and  peace.  In  1820,  however,  a 
great  calamity  befel  Port  au  Prince  ;  an  exceedingly 
destructive  fire  swept  away  property  to  an  immense 
amount.  This  misfortune  was  the  more  deeply  felt 
from  the  fact  that  the  work  of  insurance  had  not  yet 
begun  in  Hayti,  and  consequently  each  one  had  to 
support  his  own  ruin  as  best  he  could. 

We  have  already  seen  the  ruin  and  end  of  Chris 
tophe  and  his  kingdom.  This,  however,  we  have 
seen  from  a  northern  point  of  view  ;  it  now  remains 
for  us  to  view  this  important  event  from  the  Western 
Republic. 

It  was  reported  to  the  Western  Government  that 
St.  Mark's,  on  Christophe's  western  frontiers,  was  in 
a  state  of  revolt ;  that  Christophe  himself  was  now 
helpless  from  apoplexy,  and  that  the  Royal  troops 


142  HATTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

of  that   place  were  ready  to  join  the  Republican 
standard. 

Such  news  was  not  altogether  unexpected  ;  in  fact 
it  had  been  predicted  from  the  beginning  that  it  was 
only  necessary  to  leave  Christophe  to  himself,  and 
that  he  alone  would  bring  about  his  own  ruin. 
.  Preparations  were  soon  made  by  Boyer,  and  his 
inarch  to  the  Cape*  was  uninterrupted  ;  hence,  in  a 
few  days  the  capital  of  the  now  fallen  and  self-mur 
dered  monarch  was  filled  with  about  20,000  men, 
commanded  by  the  President  of  the  Republic. 

Here  the  fortunate  Boyer  was  well  received,  the 
hated  tyranny  of  Christophe  having  well-prepared 
his  way.  All  was  joy,  and  the  people  of  the  North 
felt  that  a  more  than  iron  yoke  had  been  broken  by 
the  hand  of  God  himself;  hence  there  was  an  en 
thusiastic  burst  of  fraternal  congratulation  between 
all  parties.  The  northern  kingdom  was  declared  to 
be  extinct,  and  absorbed  into  the  Western  Republic, 
of  which  Boyer  was  President. 

A  high  tone  of  industry  had  indeed  resulted  from 
Christophe's  natural  temperament ;  but  that  energy 
had  degenerated  into  cruelty,  and  his  measures  be 
came  stained  with  blood,  hence  the  absorption  of  the 
monarchy,  in  this  case  into  the  Republic,  was  a  most 
happy  consummation.  It  is  true,  that  by  this  means 
the  genuine  principles  of  liberty  were  spread  among 
the  masses,  which  at  this  time  were  but  little  pre 
pared  to  comprehend  or  appreciate  them ;  but  even 
this  was  better  than  a  murderous  monarchy. 

Henceforth  the  entire  of  the  French  part  of  the 
island  constituted  the  limits  of  the  Republic.     This 
*  A  distance  of  about  200  miles. 


FROM   HISTORICAL  NOTES.  143 

was  a  grand  step,  and  afforded  solid  ground  of  hope 
for  future  prosperity. 

But  the  good  fortune  of  Boyer  did  not  stop  here. 
The  following  year,  1821,  the  Spanish  part  of  the 
island  declared  its  independence  of  Spain ;  but 
doubtless  feeling  their  weakness,  measures  were  taken 
by  themselves  to  communicate  with  the  Haytian 
Republic,  which  in  1822  were  followed  up  and  ac 
complished  by  the  presence  of  Boyer  in  the  ancient 
capital  of  the  great  Columbus  with  upward  of  20,000 
men. 

It  must,  however,  be  understood  that  the  Spaniards 
of  the  eastern  part  of  the  island  were  not,  in  this 
case,  a  conquered  people.  The  movement  which 
terminated  in  their  union  with  the  Haytian  Republic 
originated  with  the  Spaniards,  they  themselves  having 
wisely  seen,  that  their  own  interest  and  those  of  the 
island  at  large,  rendered  it  desirable  that  the  whole 
population  of  Hayti,  throughout  the  entire  island, 
should  live  under  one  flag,  although  there  doubtless 
was  a  strong  opposing  party  among  the  Spaniards. 

We  therefore  see  here,  that  there  were  at  least 
some,  in  the  Spanish  part  of  the  island,  at  this  time, 
who  thought  more  of  the  whole  and  general  interests 
of  Hayti,  as  one  united  nation,  than  of  themselves 
personally ;  for  they  were  certainly  as  capable  of 
defending  themselves  against  Spain  as  the  French 
Haytians  were  of  defending  themselves  against 
France. 

The  limits,  therefore,  of  the  Haytian  Republic  were 
now  those  of  the  island  itself ;  and  a  field  of  nearly  a 
million  of  minds  was  now  thrown  open  to,  and  even 
called  aloud  for,  the  healthy  action  of  the  intellectual 


144  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

and  moral  plough.  Had  the  ruling  spirits  in  the 
land  of  that  day  only  had  "ears  to  hear,"  an  in 
creased  and  widely  extended  dominion  had  led  to 
the  true  dignity  of  the  nation,  its  unbounded  resources 
had  been  opened,  and  unlimited  wealth  had  ulti 
mately  resulted ;  knowledge  had  taken  the  place  of 
a  standing  army,  and  reason  had  asserted  her  power. 
But  this  was  not  understood,  hence  ere  long  the  com 
plaint  was  heard,  on  the  part  of  the  French  Haytians, 
that  the  Spanish  part  was  rather  a  burden  to  the 
republic  than  otherwise,  which  will  be  easily  under 
stood  was  the  case,  by  the  fact  that  arms  and  troops, 
more  in  the  sense  of  rulers  than  otherwise,  were  sent 
among  them,  which  they  rather  hated  than  sup 
ported. 

Men  have  indeed  yet  to  learn  that  there  is  more 
power  in  a  spelling-book  than  a  sword,  and  that 
until  the  former  reigns,  we  shall  ever  be  in  danger 
of  the  despotism  of  the  latter. 

The  Republic  of  Hayti  was  now  composed  of  con 
flicting  elements,  persons  of  the  most  opposite  views 
were  now  in  contact  with  each  other,  and  the  utmost 
caution  and  prudence  on  the  part  of  the  Government 
was  doubtless  necessary  ;  yet  the  real  interests  of  the 
country  were  one.  The  main-spring  of  education, 
now  more  than  ever,  needed  a  strong  and  healthy 
action,  and  every  child  in  the  island  should  have  felt 
its  power;  but  the  grand  infatuation  prevailed — 
"  There  is  no  time  for  this  !  "  or,  "  The  time  for  this 
had  not  yet  arrived ! "  Nor  will  it  ever  arrive  until 
those  who  have  the  power,  shall  be  resolved  to  do 
this,  whatever  else  remains  undone.  The  task  would 
indeed  be  great,  but  the  political  as  well  as  the  reli- 


FEOM   HISTOEICAL   NOTES.  145 

gious  soul  of  the  nation,  thoroughly  strung  up  to 
this,  it  would  soon  appear  that  educational  parties 
would  be  quite  as  easy  as  card  parties,  while  they 
would  be  far  more  useful. 

It  is  indeed  to  be  feared  that  the  idea  had  got  into 
existence  of  its  being  more  easy  to  govern  a  mass  of 
ignorance  than  an  enlightened  people.  Nor  is  it 
strange  that  the  ruling  thought  and  fear  of  Europe 
as  to  making  a  penman  of  every  individual,  should 
have  gained  the  ascendency  in  ITayti,  for  she  really 
never  had  any  other  model  before  her;  hence,  it 
must  be  admitted,  that  in  the  infancy  of  the 
Haytian  nation,  the  age  was  more  to  be  blamed 
for  her  errors  than  herself.  Europe  at  this  time  had 
not  yet  risen  to  the  height  of  this  great  idea — of 
teaching  every  individual  to  be  a  man.  The  United 
States  indeed  had,  at  least  so  far  as  the  white  class 
was  concerned,  but  in  the  beginning  of  the  present 
century  all  was  infancy  and  experiment  on  the  great 
question  of  the  education  of  the  masses. 

The  iield  of  labor  now,  however,  in  Hayti,  was 
fully  and  entirely  open.  The  whole  island  was  now 
under  one  government,  and  the  position  of  President 
Boyer  was  elevated  and  powerful,  while  at  the  same 
time  he  was  himself  honored  and  respected,  and  his 
influence  was  sufficiently  great  to  have  carried  the 
whole  nation  with  him  in  any  measure  which  might 
have  been  for  the  advancement  and  general  welfare 
of  the  people,  the  position  was  splendid.  A  man 
having  entirely  at  his  command  a  country  unsur 
passed  for  resources  of  wealth,  with  a  people  natu 
rally  mild  and  well-disposed ;  with  such  means  and 
resources  what  might  not  have  been  done  ?  But  an 


146  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

utterly  false  policy  reigned,  and  the  sin  of  the  day 
consisted  rather  in  doing  nothing  than  in  dong  posi 
tive  evil. 

It  might  indeed  be  said  that  at  this  period  of 
Haytian  history  party  feeling  ran  high,  and  required 
prudent  management,  but  it  might  be  well  replied, 
that  the  true  safety-valve  for  party  feeling  consists 
in  keeping  the  nation's  way  open  and  clear  for  every 
kind  of  progress.  Certain  it  is,  that  party  feeling 
was  never  subdued  by  any  course  of  policy  adopted 
in  those  days.  Party  feeling  in  a  nation  which, 
knows  how  to  direct  its  Governors  and  its  Govern 
ment,  is  far  less  dangerous  than  where  the  parties 
are  distracted,  without  properly  knowing  why. 

Nevertheless,  about  this  period  of  the  Haytian 
history,  the  press  was  often  heard  in  tones  of  thun 
der.  But  the  ruling  power  instead  of  placing  itself 
at  the  head  of  an  onward  movement,  which  was 
began  by  the  people,  feared  and  was  deaf;  hence  all 
was  stagnant,  but  it  w^as  a  stagnation  which  consisted 
in  the  pent  up  feelings  of  the  nation.  The  ruling 
powers,  loving  things  as  they  were,  were  seemingly 
heedless  of  the  certainty  of  a  national  explosion  from 
sheer  wrant  of  vent,  for  the  great  tide  which  was 
rising,  and  which  by  wise  rulers  might  have  been 
foreseen,  should  have  been  directed  in  its  legitimate 
and  natural  onward  movement,  which  to  check 
would  be  simply  revolutionary. 

We,  however,  are  not  to  conclude  that  the  silence 
of  death  reigned  at  this  time  over  the  Haytian  people 
as  to  general  intelligence.  The  press  was  not  alto 
gether  dumb ;  hence,  before  1807,  a  career  of  jour 
nalism  was  commenced  in  the  Republic  previous  to 


FKOM   HISTORICAL   NOTP:S. 

the  above  date.  "  La  Gazette  Commerciale  d'Haiti," 
made  its  appearance,  and  was  for  sme  time  directed 
by  a  few  intelligent  gentlemen  ;  also  another,  named 
"  La  Gazette  Officielle  de  PEtat  d'Haiti,"  which  being 
published  at  the  Cape,  became  subsequently  the 
Royal  Gazette,  under  King  Christophe. 

At  Port  au  Prince,  was  commenced  in  1807, 
L'Abeille  Haitienne."  In  1818,  "Le  Parfaite  Pa- 
triote."  In  1819,  a  paper  was  commenced  at  Cayes, 
dedicated  "  Au  Temps  et  d  la  Verite."  In  1820, 
"  L'Hermit  d'Haiti."  In  1821,  "  La  Concorde,"  and 
in  1822,  at  Santo  Domingo,  "  L'Emile  Haitienne." 

Tliis  list  might  be  very  greatly  prolonged,  for  the 
active  and  well-developed  intelligence  of  many  of 
the  Haytians  had  been  unceasingly  at  work  in  this 
mode  of  public  expression,  although  frequently 
shackled  by  the  reigning  political  ideas  of  the  day. 

What  has  been  already  noted,  although  quite 
limited,  will  suffice  to  show  that  the  Haytien  mind 
was  already  at  wotk,  and  under  more  auspicious  cir 
cumstances,  had  doubtless  struggled  through  every 
difficulty  into  full  development,  but  an  iron  hand 
seemed  already  to  weigh  upon  its  destiny ;  not  one, 
indeed,  of  individual  tyranny,  but  rather  one  made 
up  of  the  circumstances  of  the  times,  especially  on 
the  part  of  the  more  intelligent,  in  crouching  before 
party  feeling,  fearing  to  be  bold  in  doing  and  saying 
what  was  purely  right  and  strightforward. 

Truth,  however,  demands  the  acknowledgment 
that,  as  far  as  we  have  proceeded  in  these  "  histori 
cal  notes,"  the  independence  of  Hayti  has  not  been 
without  dignity,  and  notwithstanding  great  errors  in 
judgment,  and  even  the  miseries  of  bad  faith:  the 


148  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

fact  remains  that  the  true  elements  of  an  honorable 
nationality  are  here.  That  they  have  never  yet  been 
fully  brought  out  is  to  be  regretted.  The  power  and 
result  of  education  in  Hayti,  as  far  as  it  has  been 
carried  out,  needs  no  comment  for  those  who  really 
know  this  Republic,  while  at  the  same  time,  experi 
ence  has  amply  proved,  that  Christianity  in  its  right 
sense,  well-applied,  would  work  out  its  elevating 
effects;  but  if  the  living  power  of  Christ  is  not 
brought  to  bear  upon  the  nation,  it  would  be  unjust 
to  expect  its  effects. 


CHAPTER   T. 

The  Indemnity. — Arrangements  with  France. — First  American 
Immigration. — Camp  Meetings. — Baudin  Returns. — Boyer's  good 
negative. — Code  Rural. — The  Responsibility.— Blowing  up  of 
the  Arsenal  in  1826.— Question  of  Population. — All  started1  from 
Europeans. — Immorality,  the  ruin  of  Hayti. 


Gold  was  not  here,  the  price  of  Liberty, 

But  simply  dust,  deep  dyed  in  blood,  which  now, 

The  guilty  fly, 

THE  indemnification  demanded  of  Hayti  by  Franco, 
was  an  event  which,  while  it  created  much  anxiety, 
gave  rise  to  an  immense  diversity  of  opinion. 

The  French  Government  was  doubtless  urged  to 
this  step,  both  by  the  former  colonists  of  this  island, 
which  had  promised  so  much  wealth,  and  also  by  the 
consideration  of  the  bearing  of  the  whole  case  upon 
tbe  national  honor  and  dignity  of  the  French  people. 

In  the  loss  of  St.  Dominque,  France  had  doubtless 
lost  one  of  the  brightest  gems  in  her  crown,  but  to 
be  so  beaten  by  an  inferior  power,  with  impunity, 
would  have  been  humiliating.  Many  opinions,  how 
ever,  both  amongst  the  Haytians  and  foreigners,  have 
been  broached  on  this  subject;  some  have  main 
tained  that  Christophers  daring  and  defying  refusal, 
was  the  right  position  of  the  Haytian  people,  wrhile 
others  maintained  that  the  course  pursued  by  Petion 
and  Boyer,  was  the  only  true  one.  That  France 
would  ever  have  given  up  her  claim,  was  scarcely  to 


150  HAYTI  AN   INDEPENDENCE, 

be  supposed,  still  less,  that  when  once  made,  she 
would  ever  retract ;  while  on  the  other  hand,  it 
would  have  been  impossible  for  Hayti  to  have  sus 
tained  a  perpetual  war  with  France  ;  the  conclusion, 
therefore,  is  tolerably  clear,  that  it  was  desirable  on 
both  sides,  that  the  most  honorable  arrangements 
possible  should  be  made  ;  but  we  will  here  let  the 
Haytian  historian  speak  for  himself: 

"In  1825,  after  a  long  series  of  negotiations,  the  indepen 
dence  of  the  French  part  of  St.  Domingue  was  recognized  by 
Charles  the  X.  of  France,  on  the  ground  and  condition  of  an 
indemnity  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  millions  of  francs.  By  this 
ordinance,  the  independence  of  Ilayti  was  but  conditionally 
recognized,  and  in  default  of  payment,  it  was  understood  that 
things  should  remain  as  they  were  previous  to  1825,  viz.,  Hayti 
independent,  but  soliciting  recognition  as  such,  by  its  ancient 
Metropolitan  Government. 

"  The  acceptation  of  this  ordinance,  drawn  up  by  the  Gov 
ernment  of  Charles  the  X.,  on  such  severe  conditions,  occa 
sioned  much  discontent  in  the  country,  and  in  some  instances 
dangerous  conspirations,  into  which  even  some  of  the  most 
influential  Generals  entered. 

"  But  President  Boyer  found  means  of  surmounting  all  his 
dificulties,  while  at  the  same  time  he  was  deeply  convinced  of 
the  utter  impossibility  of  paying  so  enormous  an  indemnity, 
and  ultimately  succeeded  in  inducing  France  to  treat  with  Hayti 
on  the  supposition  of — or  assuming — her  independence. 

"  In  1828,  Lascases  and  Baudin  arrived  in  Hayti,  as  Plenipo 
tentiaries  sent  by  the  French  Government.  On  this  occasion 
the  independence  of  Hayti  was  again  solemnly  recognized,  but 
apart  from  all  consideration  of  indemnity  by  a  first  treaty. 

"  Then  by  a  second  treaty,  simply  and  purely  financial,  Hayti 
engaged  to  pay  to  France  the  sum  of  sixty  millions  of  francs 
in  thirty  years,  as  an  indemnity  to  the  former  colonists  for  their 
loss  of  property ;  hence,  the  independence  of  Hayti  was  recog 
nized,  apart  from  all  consideration  of  indemnification ;  no  con- 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  151 

ditions  or  calculations  were  entered  into  as  a  price  for  her 
liberty  or  independence."* 

There  is  truly  an  honesty  and  fairness  about  this 
transaction  on  both  sides,  which  perhaps  it  would  be 
unjust  to  deny  or  pass  over;  the  delicacy  of  France 
in  the  whole  arrangement  is  honorable,  while  the 
sound  principle,  on  the  part  of  Hayti,  in  avoiding  all 
definition  of  the  property  said  to  be  lost,  is  com 
mendable  ;  landed  property  to  an  immense  amount, 
was  doubtless  lost  in  this  great  political  and  moral 
convulsion. 

Nor  need  this  debt,  although  heavy,  ever  have 
crippled  Hayti  in  any  sense,  for  her  resources  are 
beyond  all  calculation — agricultural  and  otherwise — 
her  soil  is  unsurpassed  in  richness,  while  her  mines 
are  full  of  wealth,  and  notwithstanding  the  swarming 
hinderances  which  indeed  have  always  existed,  a 
right  course  had  undoubtedly  realized  a  far  greater 
development  of  every  kind  than  has  ever  yet  been 
seen,  and  which  the  age  might  have  expected  from  a 
country  and  people  of  such  unquestionable  resources. 

Poverty,  in  the  midst  of  such  wealth,  cannot  exist 
innocently.  Wars  and  revolutions  have  indeed  been 
frequent,  nor  have  fires  and  earthquakes  been  want 
ing,  but  there  have  been  intervals  of  peace,  and 
breathing  time,  in  which  the  grand  antidote  for  an 
uneasy  national  mind  might  have  been  gradually 
introduced,  in  the  form  of  national  enterprise,  of 
naval,  or  even  land  architecture,  the  construction  of 
public  roads,  either  for  ordinary  purposes  or  for  rails 
and  steam  or  both,  with  innumerable  other  things, 
thus  drawing  off  the  national  mind  from  military 
*  Madiou. 


152  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE. 

pageantry,  which  the  Haytians  themselves  are  begin 
ning  to  see  is  but  a  poor  and  hollow  substitute  for 
sound  principles  relating  to  the  nation  and  its  general 
interests. 

But  the  necessity  of  national  action  was  felt ; 
hence,  about  1823,  a  system  of  immigration,  on  a 
large  scale,  from  the  United  States,  was  set  on  foot, 
consisting  of  black  and  colored  free  people. 

It  was  proposed  that  some  20,000  such  persons 
should  be  induced  to  come,  the  liaytian  Goverment 
paying  passage  expenses,  and  affording  provision  for 
a  limited  time  for  such  as  might  really  need  it. 
Some  came  over  at  their  own  expense,  and  even 
brought  property  with  them  to  a  considerable 
amount. 

It  would  appear,  however,  that  this  difficult  under 
taking,  although  well  meant  and  commenced  in  all 
good  faith  on  the  part  of  the  Boyer  Government, 
upon  the  whole,  was  not  well  managed,  for,  notwith 
standing  many  respectable  people  came,  with  ample 
means,  who  were  of  great  use  to  the  country,  it  must 
be  admitted  that  many  came  who  were  a  perfect 
misfortune  to  themselves  and  the  community  which 
they  had  come  to  join.  Some  even  died  of  grief,  and 
many  returned  ;  the  entirely  military  character  .and 
liabits  of  Hayti  were  unsuitable  to  the  American 
immigrants ;  many,  however,  remained  and  became 
respectable  and  useful  in  various  branches  of  industry. 

Some  who  persevered  in  remaining  became  min 
isters  of  the  Gospel,  and  proved  to  be  of  sound 
character,  both  of  the  Methodist  and  Baptist  denom 
inations.  Small  churches  therefore  soon  sprung  up, 
both  in  the  French  and  Spanish  part  of  the  island. 


FROM    HISTORICAL   NOTES.  153 

At  Port  au  Prince  a  neat  little  edifice  was  raised  by 
the  American  colored  immigrants  which  would  ac 
commodate  some  two  hundred  hearers. 

It  is  an  interesting  fact,  that  the  religious  views 
and  habits  of  this  new  community,*  tested  in  a  salu 
tary  manner  the  reigning  thoughts  of  Roman  Catholic 
Hayti  on  the  general  question  of  religious  liberty, 
and  it  must  be  admitted  that  this  second  test  was 
much  more  satisfactory  than  the  first,  when  the 
native  Haytians,  under  Brown  and  Catts,  thought 
proper  to  renounce  Romanism  for  Protestantism — in 
iact  Hayti  did  really  receive  the  Gospel,  notwith 
standing  difficulties.! 

But  the  camp  meetings,  which  were  at  first  allowed, 
became  an  interesting  test  to  the  reigning  thoughts 
of  the  day ;  hence,  as  might  have  been  expected, 
they  were  eventually  feared  as  being  likely  to  be 
ultimately  abused  by  revolutionists,  or  other  ill-dis 
posed  persons,  and  were  therefore  disallowed.  These 
fears  were  perhaps  the  greater  from  the  fact  that  all 
was  done  in  the  English  language,  except  that  occa 
sionally  some  of  the  native  Methodists  might  preach 
in  French.  % 

This  fear  of  a  revolution  at  every  breath,  and  that 
too  not  without  reason,  has  been  the  painful  pecu 
liarity  of  Hayti  ever  since  it  existed  as  a  nation, 
and  must  be,  either  in  Hayti  or  elsewhere,  wherever 

*  African  Episcopal  Methodists. 

t  Dominica,  the  eastern  part  of  Hayti,  fully  tolerated  Protest 
antism,  but  it  is  doubtful  whether  even  one  case  of  Evangelical 
conversion  ever  occurred  amongst  the  Dominican  Spaniards  of 
Hayti. 

t  As  did  frequently  G.  C.  Pressoir. 


154 

arms  alone  are  in  the  ascendency,  even  though  they 
should  be  necessary. 

Nevertheless,  a  Methodist  camp  meeting  held  in  an 
entirely  Roman  Catholic  country  goes  far  to  prove 
that  the  Haytian  Roman  Catholic  had  already  left 
his  European  communion  behind  by  his  advanced 
views  of  religious  liberty,  for  notwithstanding  the 
peculiarities  of  the  case,  whether  a  camp  meeting 
under  any  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Governments  of 
Europe,  even  under  the  same  circumstances,  would 
have  been  tolerated,  is  at  least  a  question.* 

This  was  the  first  attempt  at  immigration  on  the 
part  of  the  Haytian  Government,  although  not  the 
last,  and  whatever  failure  may  attach  to  both,  noth 
ing  can  be  more  natural,  under  present  altered  cir 
cumstances,  than  that  Hayti  should  look  favorably 
towards  the  colored  people  of  the  States,  or  that  they 
should  look  with  great  interest  towards  Hay  ti.  This 
mutual  interest  will  doubtless  increase  ;  in  fact  noth 
ing  could  be  more  natural.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed 
that  Hay  ti  will  always  be  guilty  of  military  idolatry  ; 
sooner  or  later  this  must  cease,  while  it  is  easy  to 
suppose  that  the  colored  people  of  the  States,  may 
even  yet  see  many  attractions  in  Hayti,  where  they 
themselves  might  one  day  be  useful  in  carrying  out 
the  wishes  and  hopes,  so  plainly  expressed  by  Hayti 
itself,  of  working  out  the  great  principle  which  is 
the  glory  of  Hayti,  viz.,  that  independence  is  the 
true  dignity  of  the  black  man.  A  thousand  motives 
may,  at  no  far  distant  day,  operate  in  this  sense ;  in 
fact  it  is  impossible  that  Hayti  should  be  so  near  a 

*  This  camp  meeting  was  got  up  by  American  colored  people 
recently  arrived  in  Hayti. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  155 

neighbor  to  so  great  a  blaze  of  civilization  as  is  now 
lighted  up  in  the  United  States,  without  feeling  its 
elevating  power  throughout  the  entire  ramification 
of  her  institutions,  so  true  is  it,  both  with  regard  to 
nations  and  individuals,  "  none  of  us  liveth  to  him 
self!" 

Haytian  independence  is  a  necessity,  it  has  nothing 
to  fear ;  let  the  Haytians  therefore  develope  its  dig 
nity  ;  their  capacity  to  do  so  is  incontestable. 

About  1827,  the  Rev.  St.  D.  Bauduy,  a  Wesleyan 
native  missionary,  arrived  from  England,  having 
spent  some  four  years,  principally  in  the  islands  of 
Guernsey  and  Jersey,  under  the  care  of  the  "VVesleyan 
Methodist  Missionary  Committee,  with  the  view  of 
preparing  him  for  usefulness  on  his  return  to  his 
native  land.  This  native  minister,  who  was  ordained 
in  England,  on  his  arrival  at  Port  au  Prince,  took 
charge  of  the  Church,  which  had  been  kept  together 
during  his  absence  by  the  faithful  and  devoted  J.  C. 
Pressoir. 

By  this  time,  therefore,  Protestant  Christianity  had 
began  to  assume  a  definite  form  before  the  people 
of  llayti,  not  only  by  the  presence  of  the  English 
Wesley  an  Mission  at  Port  au  Prince,  but  also  by  the 
various  American  churches  formed  by  the  colored 
people  from  the  United  States  in  different  parts  of 
the  Republic  ;  nor  is  it  to  be  supposed  that  their 
presence  was  without  influence — unadorned  truth 
cannot  be  powerless — nevertheless,  some  declared  it 
to  be  treason  to  leave  the  religion  of  one's  ancestors, 
forgetting  that  upon  this  principle,  they  had  remained 
in  the  African  heathenism  of  their  fathers. 

The  grand  peculiarity  of  Haytian  history  about 


156  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

this  time  was  the  ascendency  of  a  sort  of  negative 
good,  rather  than  the  active  and  positive ;  it  was  never 
theless  wise  to  allow  evil  to  fall  of  itself.  This  indeed 
told  well  upon  the  military  system  ;  hence,  for  many 
years,  in  the  case  of  the  death  of  a  general,  his  place 
would  not  be  filled  up  by  the  creation  of  another, 
but  the  vacant  post  would  be  filled  probably  by  a 
colonel ;  a  colonel  dying,  a  commandant  would  fill 
his  place.  This  wise  plan  had  already  greatly  re 
duced  the  army,  and  in  the  end  would  doubtless 
have  brought  it  within  its  desired  limits.  These 
negative  improvements  were  unquestionably  sound 
and  good,  and  it  is  infinitely  to  be  regretted  that 
they  were  not  persevered  in,  as  Boyer  meant  they 
should  be,  until  the  army  was  brought  within  its 
ri«;ht  bounds. 

o 

But  there  was  at  this  moment  a  national  desire 
for  something  more  positive  and  active  ;  hence,  now 
and  then  a  restless  spirit  would  break  out  in  arms 
and  disturb  the  reigning  torpor.  Generals  Richard, 
Paul,  Roumain,  Darfour  and  others,  about  this  time 
professing  to  deplore  the  national  lethargy  which 
seemed  to  envelope  everything,  unwisely  sought  their 
remedy  in  the  sword,  and  thereby  only  aggravated  a 
disease  which  they  assured  the  world  they  wished  to 
cure ;  but  the  details  of  these  unhappy  events  must, 
for  the  present,  be  left  to  the  more  detailed  histories 
of  Hayti. 

Let  us  however  here  note,  that  any  people  or  ex 
ecutive  power,  not  having  themselves  been  taught 
or  trained,  either  by  the  history  of  their  own  past 
national  career,  or  by  sound  moral  principle,  the  true 
principles  of  government,  and  knowing  no  other  means 


FROM  HISTORICAL  NOTES.  157 

of  correcting  abuses  or  errors,  which  will  occur  and 
creep  in  among  all  fallible  beings,  but  by  the  sword, 
are,  and  in  the  nature  of  things  must  be,  in  a  most 
unhappy  case,  for  their  remedy  will  prove  worse 
than  the  disease;  nor  is  there  a  nation  under  heaven 
where  this  fact  has  been  more  fully  or  more  painfully 
demonstrated  than  Hayti;  and  yet,  notwithstanding 
many  painful  executions,  it  would  be  unjust  to  the 
memory  of  Boyer  to  suppose  him  cruel  or  blood 
thirsty  ;  most  assuredly  he  was  not. 

Nevertheless,  the  blood  shed  by  a  perfectly  humane 
man,  purely  in  the  interests  of  his  country,  and  with 
a  view  to  the  public  peace  and  safety,  might  well 
serve  as  a  lesson  to  his  successors  that  such  a  course 
utterly  fails  in  the  accomplishment  of  the  contem 
plated  purpose. 

It  should  not  be  lost  sight  of,  that  in  those  days 
there  was  more  or  less  liberty  of  the  press ;  a  fact 
which,  while  it  renders  all  recourse  to  arms  still  less 
excusable,  must  raise  the  Government  of  the  day 
still  higher  in  general  merit  and  esteem. 

Great  honor  is  also  due  from  posterity  to  Boyer  for 
his  successful  reduction  of  the  army  and  the  encour 
agement  of  a  well-organized  national  guard,  a  fact 
attesting  the  general  confidence  of  the  Government 
of  the  day  in  the  citizens  of  the  Republic.  Nor  is  it 
impossible  that  this  well-organized  body  of  poor, 
wealthy,  and  respectable  citizens  might  ultimately 
have  superseded  the  regular  army. 

Considering,  however,  the  fact  already  referred  to 
of  a  great  desire  for  real  progress  which  at  this  time 
so  evidently  animated  the  nation,  it  is  deeply  to  be 
deplored  that  no  means  should  have  been  found  by 


158 

so  well-meaning  a  Government  to  meet  the  univer 
sally  expressed  feeling  and  wishes  of  the  nation  ; 
certainly  such  a  course  was  not  only  possible,  but 
might  have  been  adopted  without  in  the  slightest 
degree  infringing  upon  the  dignity  of  the  Govern 
ment,  nor  can  it  be  doubted  that  it  was  an  error  for 
a  moment  to  hesitate,  although  the  error  on  the  part 
of  the  people  was  yet  far  greater  in  having  recourse 
to  the  sword ;  hence,  error  here  was  everywhere,  for 
a  war  on  all  sides  was  resorted  to,  and  reason  fled. 

Stringent  laws  were  thought  needful  for  the  public 
interest,  hence  the  country  people  were  allowed  to 
come  into  town  only  on  Saturday  morning,  to  return 
on  a  Sunday  evening — the  Sunday  in  these  days  being 
the  great  market-day — all  the  rest  of  the  week, 
except  in  cases  of  holidays,  national  or  religious, 
they  were  expected  to  employ  themselves  in  their 
various  branches  of  industry,  or  at  least  they  were 
not  permitted  to  come  to  town  without  a  written 
permission  from  a  suitable  authority. 

These  were  measures  which  may  indeed  have 
suited  the  circumstances  of  the  day.  Whether,  how 
ever,  such  laws  should  have  been  needed  at  all,  is 
the  question.  That  the  ignorance  and  indolence  of 
the  people  may  have  been  great  might  be  admitted, 
but  the  law-makers  themselves  told  them  that  they 
were  free,  how  then  could  they  be  coerced  ! 

The  true  coersion  of  a  free  people  is,  the  creation 
of  a  sense  of  want,  by  a  well-adapted  mental  and 
moral  culture.  It  is  an  unhappy  thing  for  a  nation 
where  such  laws  and  regulations  are  deemed  needful. 
The  raising  of  men  to  a  sense  of  their  want  and 
necessities  as  such,  would  have  been  no  more  ex- 


FROM    HISTORICAL   NOTES.  159 

pensive  than  an  extensive  system  of  military  police, 
whose  example  and  mode  of  lite  would  tend  more  to 
destroy  industry  than  otherwise. 

On  the  subject  of  the  Rural  Code,  the  following  is 
an  extract  from  a  respectable  English  author,  who 
wrote  on  Hayti  in  1828.* 

u  The  '  Code  Rural '  was  passed  by  the  Chamber  of  Com 
munes  on  the  21st  of  May,  and  received  the  President's  fiat  on 
the  6th  of  the  next  month.  All  this  took  place  during  my 
residence  at  Port  au  Prince.  This  is  the  work  of  General 
Inginac,  aided  by  one  or  two  of  the  Chamber  and  Senate. 

u  The  Chamber  of  Communes,  in  its  farewell  address,  tells 
the  people  that  laws,  4just  and  severe,'  were  imperatively 
necessary  for  the  revival  of  agriculture. 

"  It  may  not  be  unimportant  to  give  here  a  few  articles  from 
this  Code  Rural. 

"The  Purposes  of  the  Rural  Police  are: 

"  First.  The  repressing  of  idleness. 

u  Second.  The  enforcing  order  and  assiduity  in  agricultural 
labor. 

"Third.   The  discipline  of  laborers,  collectively  or  in  gangs. 

u  Fourth.  The  making  and  keeping  in  repair  of  the  public 
roads,  etc. 

"Article  180.  Every  person  attached  to  the  country  as  a 
cultivator,  who  shall,  on  a  working  day,  and  during  the  hours 
of  labor,  be  found  unemployed  or  lounging  in  the  public  roads  , 
shall  be  considered  idle,  and  be  taken  before  the  justice  of  the 
peace,  who  shall  commit  him  to  prison  for  twenty-four  hours 
for  the  first  offence,  and  shall  send  him  to  labor  on  the  public 
roads  on  a  repetition  of  the  offence; 

"  Article  183.  The  field-labor  shall  commence  on  Monday 
morning,  and  shall  not  cease  until  Friday  evening.  (Legal 
holidays  excepted.)1' 

All  this  may  be  good,  but  if  free  Republican  insti 
tutions  are  really  to  exist,  then,  however  great  the 
merit  of  such  a  code  might  be,  its  full  and  entire 
*  J.  Franklin. 


160  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

execution  would  be  simply  impossible.  Anything 
like  oppressive  laws  would  contradict  the  great  and 
ruling  idea  of  "  liberte,  egalite,"  which  now  entirely 
possesses  the  masses  of  the  Haytian  Republic,  nor 
will  it  be  difficult  to  understand,  that  in  an  entirely 
free  nation,  there  would  be  men  who,  either  from 
good  or  bad  motives,  would  rise  up  and  openly 
oppose,  even  well-meant  oppression.  In  fact,  what 
ever  good  these  coercive  laws  might  possess,  they  did 
not,  and  could  not,  teach  industry  as  a  principle  ; 
nor  would  it  be  surprising  if  force  in  any  sense  should 
be  deemed  slavish.  But  whatever  might  be  the 
interpretation,  it  is  impossible  not  to  feel  that  the 
supposed  necessity  of  such  a  code,  supposes  also  a 
degraded  people. 

Had  only  the  Christian  Sabbath  been  recognized 
as  a  suitable  day  for  national  moral  culture,  it  had 
most  certainly  not  been  in  vain ;  but  the  framers  of 
the  "  Code  Rural,"  doubtless  calculated  that  the 
public  market  should  be  in  full  and  special  opera 
tion  on  that  day ;  hence  the  toils  of  Saturday  and 
Sunday  were  even  greater  than  the  forced  labor  of 
the  week.  At  least  a  pause  in  labor  should  have 
formed  some  part  of  the  aim  at  industry,  either  as  a 
Christian  Sabbath  or  otherwise.  Unceasing  labor  is 
simply  wild  extravagance,  human  nature  being  inca 
pable  of  it. 

But  little  foresight  is  needed  to  see  the  utter  im 
possibility  of  perpetuating  such  a  system  of  things. 
In  fact,  such  measures  can  only  tend,  amongst  a  free 
people,  to  revolution.  Nor  can  anything  be  more 
astonishing  than  that  good  motives  and  honest  aims, 
should  have  exacted  "such  breathless  toil  as  not  to 


FROM    HISTORICAL   NOTES.  161 

leave  one  single  hour  of  repose  during  the  whole 
year,  except  the  national  holidays.  Most  truly, 
neither  God  nor  reason  have  never  exacted  from 
man  unceasing  labor ;  nor  is  it  surprising  that  such 
unwise  measures  should  sink  under  the  weight  of 
their  own  unreasonableness,  while  at  the  same  time 
they  remind  us  of  the  fearful  responsibility  of  legis 
lators  themselves,  who  by  errors  both  in  judgment 
and  principle,  become  the  originators  of  revolution.* 

The  course  of  events,  however,  went  on  in  Hayti. 
But  the  ruling  powers  of  nations  are  not  infallible, 
and  the  best  intentions  frequently  fail  in  their  pur 
poses.  Meantime  a  fearful  accident  took  place  at 
Port  au  Prince  ;  the  Arsenal  blew  up. 

An  English  author  on  Hayti,  then  residing  at 
Port  au  Prince,  gives  the  following  account  of  that 
event,  which  is  here  recorded,  as  giving  some  idea  of 
the  general  habits  of  the  Ilaytians  of  that  day,  and 
which,  in  the  same  class  of  persons,  are  not  now 
much  altered,  if  at  all. 

u  The  incautious  striking  an  iron  hoop  with  an  iron  hammer 
over  a  barrel  of  gunpowder,  is  reported  to  have  produced  the 
explosion.  I  had,  early  in  the  morning  of  the  3d  of  February, 
1826,  received  a  bag  from  England,  and  while  busy  with  its 
contents,  sitting  in  the  gallery  of  my  residence,  which  over 
looked  the  city,  my  attention  was  solicited  by  a  distant  explo 
sion,  followed  by  a  mass  of  dense  smoke,  which  on  clearing 

*  At  every  turn  in  these  "historical  notes,"  the  chilling  absence 
of  an  ameliorating  Christianity  is  felt,  all  is  harsh  authority,  and 
yet  it  is  a  fact  everywhere  felt,  that  neither  wise  nor  ignorant  free 
men  will  consent,  willingly,  to  force  of  any  kind,  even  though  it 
shotild  be  to  their  own  interest  to  do  so.  Only  true  Christianity 
can  invest  reason  with  a  willing,  acting,  working  power.  This  will 
touch  the  hidden  springs  of  the  most  enlightened  men,  but  this 
ever  has  been  and  still  is,  wanting  in  Hayti. 


162 

away,  fully  explained  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  calamity. 
The  French  and  English  sailors  in  the  harbor  rendered  great 
service  in  extinguishing  the  flames.  There  wos  a  large  assort 
ment  of  army  clothing  there  at  the  time,  together  with  a  con 
siderable  store  of  ammunition  of  all  sorts,  and  the  whole  loss  was 
estimated  at  a  million  of  dollars  (gold). 

''But  a  short  time  previously,  in  1822,  a  fire  had  burnt  down 
a  considerable  portion  of  Port  au  Prince  ;  and  in  fact,  consider 
ing  the  great  carelessness  of  the  people  generally,  as  to  their 
candles,  lamps,  and  fires,  it  is  even  extraordinary  that  so  few 
accidents  of  this  sort  occur ;  indeed,  the  want  of  training  and 
discipline  of  all  sorts,  together  with  the  habit  of  going  about 
their  premises,  and  even  the  interior  of  their  dwellings,  with 
lighted  resinous  wood,  from  which  a  burning  cinder  will  often 
fall,  exposes  the  whole  city  continually  to  the  most  frightful 
disasters.  These  are  things  which  cannot  be  corrected  by 
police  regulations,  but  rather  by  such  domestic  habits  as  are 
rare  in  Hayti,  and  can  only  result  from  true,  genuine,  and  well- 
sustained  family  order.  But  what  can  be  expected  from  a  gen 
eral  chaos,  whether  it  may  refer  to  the  domestic  peculiarities 
of  a  people  or  aught  else  ? 

"The  same  remarks  apply  to  the  extinguishing  of  public  fires. 
A  more  chaotic  scene  can  scarcely  be  imagined  than  is  pre 
sented  by  the  thousands  which  surround  the  public  fires  in 
Ilayti.  Either  there  are  no  engines,  or  they  are  out  of  repair, 
or  there  is  no  water  to  be  had,  or  there  is  no  order  or  organiza 
tion  in  the  efforts  made  to  extinguish  the  flames.  The  presenc  of 
military  officers  on  such  occasions,  is  doubtless  useful  in  keeping 
order  among  the  people;  but  the  want  of  suitable  judgment 
and  implements  will  frequently  occasion  the  destruction  of 
property  to  a  fearful  amount,  which  frequently,  but  for  the 
help  of  foreign  sailors  in  port,  and  their  well-worked  engines, 
would  be  greater  still." 

The  question  of  population,  which  is  of  such  vast 
importance,  may  now  perhaps,  with  propriety,  come 
under  our  notice,  especially  as  about  this  date  the 
island,  throughout  its  length  and  breadth,  was  en- 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  163 

tirely  under  one  Government,  the  seat  of  which  was 
the  city  of  Port  au  Prince. 

This  question  will  necessarily  bring  before  us  the 
subject  of  marriage,  concubinage,  and  libertinage — 
not  indeed  in  any  minute  or  detailed  sense,  but  as 
the  great  public  sources  of  vice  or  virtue  to  the  na 
tion — with  the  admission,  however,  that  the  two  lat 
ter  have  fearful  sway  in  Hayti. 

Here  we  must  remember,  that  the  starting-point  is 
the  European  :  he  it  was  who  laid  the  foundations  of 
society  in  Hayti,  and  was  the  framer  of  whatever 
existed  there  of  domestic  life  at  the  declaration  of  its 
independence.  The  importance  of  this  fact  will  be 
seen  in  the  difference  now  existing  between  the 
United  States  and  Hayti.  The  starting-point  of  the 
former  was  unquestionably  honorable  marriage,  while 
the  latter  was  concubinage.  This  may  have  been  in 
both  cases  the  result  of  circumstances  over  which 
neither  had  had  any  control,  but  here  we  have  simply 

to  do  with  fact,  the  originating  causes  in  the  two  cases 
funning  no  part  of  our  present  reasoning.  Divinely 
instituted  marriage  cannot  be  laid  aside  or  departed 
from — no  matter  the  cause — with  impunity,  while  it 
must  be  admitted  that  the  same  moral  laws  which 
are  essential  to  our  well-being,  would,  if  brought  into 
operation,  do  the  same  for  Hayti  that  they  have  ever 
done  wherever  they  have  been  fairly  brought  to 
bear. 

It  is  not  at  all  intended  here  to  enter  into  any 
reasoning  as  to  the  difficulties  in  Hayti  of  a  national 
conformity  to  marriage  laws,  or  even  the  practice  of 
public  virtue.  Facts,  and  their  infallible  conse 
quences,  are  all  that  we  have  to  do  witli  in  this  case. 


1C4:  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

A  departure  from  any  of  the  fixed  laws  of  God, 
either  as  to  nature  or  otherwise,  involves  inevitable 
consequences;  hence  we  are  now  before  the  fact, 
that  libertinage  and  general  immorality  are  destruc 
tive  of  population,  and  even  tend  to  its  cessation  ;  nor 
are  difficulties  or  reasonings  of  any  kind  listened  to 
in  this  case. 

"Without,  therefore,  entering  into  any  revolting 
details  on  this  subject,  which  it  would  be  very  easy 
to  do,  as  to  general  immorality,  suffice  it  to  say  that 
the  statistics  of  population  in  this  country  offer  almost 
insurmountable  difficulties,  while  at  the  same  time 
the  medical  faculty  as  well  as  the  municipal  bodies 
of  the  Republic,  unfold  fearful  details  of  the  widely 
extended  and  ruinous  effects  of  immorality  in  the 
nation. 

Honorable  marriage,  in  the  commencement  of  this 
n-ation's  career,  was  rare,  but  it  is  only  just  to  add, 
that  a  whole  nation  under  arms  for  many  years  to 
gether,  would  inevitably  set  aside  for  many  years, 
to  a  fearful  extent,  if  not  altogether,  the  domestic 
circle.  Nor  is  it  much  to  be  wondered  at,  that  a 
nation  at  last  loving  arms,  should  become  loose  in 
public  morals,  the  more  so  where  the  climate,  by 
perpetual  heat,  gives  a  laxity  of  manner  to  the  entire 
community ;  in  fact,  under  such  circumstances, 
Christian  piety  being  wanting,  even  marriage  itself 
is  in  danger  of  becoming  a  cloak  for  vice.  Truly  it 
would  be  false  to  suppose  that  these  great  evils  have 
been  cured  in  Hayti,  while  it  would  be  unjust  not  to 
admit  that  great  improvement  has  taken  place,  or 
that  there  are  no  virtuous  marriages  in  that  country  ; 
still  the  great  plague  of  immorality  is  yet  fearful  in 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  1G5 

its  extent ;  nor  can  it  be  for  a  moment  doubted  that 
this  has  told  upon  the  strength  and  number  of  its 
population.  Six  hundred  thousand  was  probably  the 
amount  of  the  French  part  of  the  island  at  the  decla 
ration  of  Haytlan  independence. 

The  question,  therefore,  now  before  us  is  simply, 
what  would  have  been  the  result  of  true  Christian 
morality  on  such  a  population  during  sixty  years  ? 
This  indeed,  we  will  not  presume  to  fix  precisely, 
nor  is  it  needful ;  it  may  however  fairly  be  asserted 
that  the  increase  would  have  been  immense,  while 
its  elevating  power  upon  the  nation  would  have  been 
great. 

The  present  population  of  the  TTaytian  Republic 
is,  probably,  little  more  than  700,000  souls. 

This  is  a  matter  which  truly  touches  the  dignity 
of  any  nation,  and  seriously  demands  the  attention 
of  the  Ilaytian  statesman — in  its  bearing  upon  the 
military  power,  as  the  defence  of  the  nation,  in  its 
power  upon  the  national  industry  and  commerce,  as 
well  as  upon  the  future  hopes  and  honor  of  the  Re 
public. 

Is  the  increase  of  the  population  which  here  ap 
pears  satisfactory  ?  It  will  perhaps  be  impossible  to 
say  that  it  is.  Doubtless  revolutions,  wars,  earth 
quakes,  etc.,  etc.,  have  tended  to  keep  down  the 
Haytian  population,  but  it  is  at  the  same  time  unde 
niable,  that  sound  national  morality,  resulting  from 
a  universal  Christian  primary  education,  notwith 
standing  all  the  drawbacks  mentioned,  would  have 
given  to  Hayti  double  its  starting  population — espe 
cially  when  it  is  remembered  that  more  or  less 
immigration  has  been  going  on  from  the  beginning. 


166  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

All  reasoning  on  this  subject  would  be  useless. 
Immorality  has  shorn  Hayti  of  her  dignity  and 
strength  as  to  population.  And  those  in  Hayti  who 
thought  their  course  to  be  right  on  this  subject  in 
being,  either  by  concubinage  or  otherwise,  the  fathers 
of  thirty  or  sixty  children,  simply  did  not  reflect  that 
the  women  that  bore  them  would,  by  honorable 
marriage,  have  borne  a  far  greater  number. 

The  question,  therefore,  of  national  morality,  com 
bines  with  it  the  true  interests  and  dignity  of  the 
nation.  It  is  no  sectarian  question,  notwithstanding 
its  bearing  upon  religion  ;  it  is  the  source  of  numbers 
as  to  population  ;  it  is  the  source  of  quality  as  to  the 
population  itself;  it  is  also  the  mould  of  the  national 
type,  in  a  moral  sense;  it  is  the  true  bulwark  of  a 
nation,  as  to  internal  strength.  The  crime,  therefore, 
of  a  Government  not  serving  as  a  model  to  the  na 
tion  on  this  great  and  paramount  question,  is  incal 
culably  great. 

It  is  perhaps  one  of  the  distinguishing  glories  of 
the  present  age,  that  immorality  in  courts,  whether 
of  kings  or  presidents,  would  be  insufferable.  The 
past  with  regard  to  Hayti  on  this  point  has  been 
wanting  in  too  many  cases,  but  it  is  a  growing  feel 
ing,  that  in  the  present  age  this  cannot  be. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

The  Executive  Sovereign  an  error. — Periodical  Presidency  consid 
ered.— The  People  are  not  the  Masses.— Source  of  K evolutions. 
— Cayes  Revolutionary.— Herard  Dumesle  and  St.  Preux.— The 
House  expels  them. — Boyer  in  error. — The  expelled  Represen 
tatives  return  home. — Rev.  J.  Tindal  arrives. — His  health  fails. 
— Revs*  W.  T.  Cardy  and  "W.  Touler  arrive. — Dr.  England. — 
Gen.  Inginac  on  the  Clergy. — Offer  to  make  the  Yaqui  naviga 
ble. — J.  Candler. — Representatives  on  the  Code  Rurale. — Boyer 
altogether  French. — Freemasonry  in  Hayti. — Candler  on  the 
Military  System. — The  National  Guard. 


The  rightful  sovereign  of  a  people  is, 
Their  God— all  other  is  idolatry. 

IT  will  not  be  surprising  that  one  of  the  great  de 
fects  of  governing  in  Hayti  has  ever  been  that  of 
attributing  sovereignty  to  the  Executive,  hence  much 
has  always  depended  upon  the  temper,  character, 
and  intelligence  of  the  governing  chief  magistrate, 
who,  properly  speaking,  or  in  the  true  Republican 
sense,  is  simply  bound  to  execute  the  will  of  the 
people,  as  expressed  through  their  laws  and  institu 
tions. 

This  was  evidently  Petion's  error — few  had  labored 
with  greater  zeal  and  perseverance,  or  had  fought 
with  greater  bravery  for  Liberty  and  Republicanism, 
than  this  man  of  deserved  fame ;  yet  he  was  no 
sooner  settled  in  his  position  as  the  presiding  magis 
trate  of  Hayti,  than  he  pursued  such  a  course  as  led 
him  to  the  unenviable  elevation  of  a  Dictator :  not 


168  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

that  he  was  proclaimed  such,  probably  he  had  not 
even  such  a  thought,  it  is  true.  Much  might  be  said 
in  justification  of  this  step,  and  although  it  would 
have  been  wise,  and  even  desirable,  to  have  shunned 
such  a  position,  yet  it  must  be  admitted  that  he  used 
the  power  which  he  had  thus  assumed  with  dignity, 
and  perhaps  it  might  even  be  said,  with  great  bene 
volence  ;  but  the  fact  remained,  that  the  sovereignty 
of  the  nation  was  absorbed  in  himself,  and  that  at  least 
for  a  short  time,  the  institutions  and  people  were 
laid  aside. 

It  may  be  said  that  this  wras  merely  a  passing 
event,  as  indeed  it  was,  and  was  never  intended  as  a 
permanent  domination  ;  be  this  as  it  may,  it  is  cer 
tain  that  one  of  the  fundamental  laws  and  institu 
tions  of  the  country  about  this  time  underwent  an 
entire  change,  hence  in  1816  the  Presidency,  which 
was  originally  intended  to  be  periodical,  became  an 
office  for  life. 

It  is  said  that  circumstances  led  to  this ;  posterity, 
however,  will  judge  in  this  matter:  certain  it  is,  that 
Petion's  personal  happiness  was  not  increased  by  this 
measure,  nor  will  it  be  difficult  to  understand,  that 
this  change  in  the  Constitution  at  once  closed  up  a 
national  valve  through  which  ambition  might  occa 
sionally  have  escaped,  and  thus  have  saved  the  wor 
thy  Petion  himself  many  a  pang,  for  it  is  not  to  be 
concealed  that  his  heart  was  subsequently  wrung  by 
conspiracies  against  him. 

The  motive  of  this  change  was  doubtless  to  avoid 
a  periodical  excitement  which  a  Presidential  election 
every  four  years  would  have  involved,  and  which,  it 
was  thought,  would  be  dangerous.  Whether,  how- 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  169 

ever,  greater  peace  or  solidity  have  been  secured  to 
the  Republic  by  means  of  a  life  Presidency,  is  at 
least  doubtful. 

It  has  been  thought  by  some  that  the  nation  at 
this  time  was  not  prepared  for  such  excessively 
liberal  institutions,  and,  indeed,  it  must  be  remem 
bered  that  the  masses  had  but  just  broken  the  bonds 
of  slavery.  But  in  Hayti,  the  term  people  has  never 
yet,  really  and  literally  meant  the  masses,  for  the 
simple  reason  that  they  have  not  yet  been  raised  to 
their  proper  level  by  any  degree  of  education. 

We  must  therefore  bear  in  mind  that  the  Republic 
of  Hayti  was  not  formed  by  the  masses,  but  by  the 
enlightened  and  educated  portion  of  the  nation.  The 
case  then  is  evident,  that  those  who  founded  the  Ee 
public,  being  themselves  its  source  of  existence,  had 
the  right  to  command  it ;  and  the  chief  magistrate, 
who  received  power  and  accepted  office  from  them, 
unquestionably  owed  to  those  who  had  constituted 
him  what  he  was,  a  fair  and  honest  deference,  the 
more  so  from  the  fact  that  genuine  Republicanism 
seemed  to  animate  all  parties — the  President,  in  re 
ceiving  his  honors  and  power  from  the  Senators,  and 
also  the  Senators  in  conferring  them  on  him, — all 
was  given  and  received  in  this  case,  on  all  sides,  with 
the  fullest  understanding  that  the  government  should 
be  literally,  and  in  fact,  exclusively  Republican. 
Nor  is  it  possible  to  read  the  history  of  those  times 
without  being  struck  with  the  amount  of  decided 
talent  in  many  who  then  appeared  upon  the  stage  of 
action  in  Haytian  aifairs  ;  hence  the  great  principles 
of  national  freedom  had  been  ably  and  openly  de 
veloped  and  discussed  by  the  Senate  before  the  nation , 


170 

and  the  enlightened  part  of  the  people,  who  alone 
were  qualified  to  form  a  government  at  all,  evidently 
expected  the  highest  amount  of  liberty  which  Re 
publicanism  could  bestow. 

It  is  remarkable  that  so  many  Ilaytians  about  this 
time  were  men  of  decided  capacity.  The  fact  how 
ever  reminds  us  that  St.  Domingue  had  rapidly  be 
come  a  place  of  renown  for  ease  and  wealth  ;  in  fact 
"  le  Paradis  des  Francfais  "  must  have  been  attrac 
tive.  French  society,  therefore,  was  of  a  superior 
style  both  in  the  army  and  among  the  civilians — 
hence  Toussaint  L'ouverture,  and  many  others,  were 
what  they  were.  Many,  too,  of  the  leading  men  had 
already  received  a  good  education  in  Europe. 

It  must  also  be  borne  in  mind  that  an  intelligent 
French  white  population  had  long  resided  in  Hayti, 
and  had  left  the  impress  of  their  widely  extended 
civilization  ;  well  formed  families,  even  greatly  be 
loved  by  all  parties,  had  left  much  that  was  good 
behind  them.  The  number,  therefore,  of  the  en 
lightened  part  of  the  community  must  have  been 
something  important. 

With  these  facts  before  us,  it  will  appear  evident 
that  the  Haytians  were  more  prepared  than  has  been 
sometimes  thought  for  such  institutions  as  they  might 
choose  for  themselves,  notwithstanding  the  great 
mass  of  the  people  was  in  entire  ignorance. 

The  truth,  therefore,  of  the  matter  seems  to  be, 
that  those  institutions  which  Petion  himself  had  so 
strenuously  aided  in  establishing,  ought  to  have 
reigned,  whether  he  as  President  stood  or  fell.  But 
Petion  was  resolved  not  to  fall,  or  yield,  and  his  con 
sciousness  of  great  military  resources  enabled  him 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  171 

to  accomplish  the  establishment  of  his  own  power, 
nor  is  it  to  be  denied  that  this  is  the  great  rock  on 
which  so  many  revolutions  have  dashed  in  Hayti,  viz., 
the  unyielding  and  immovable  will  of  the  Executive 
against  the  national  mind. 

Motives  or  reasons  here  form  no  part  of  our  con 
sideration  ;  we  have  simply  to  do  with  the  fact,  that 
a  sovereign  Executive  in  a  Republic  is  an  anomaly, 
and  can  never  be  carried  out  without  a  revolution,  of 
which  the  government  itself,  in  such  a  case,  becomes 
the  author. 

These  reflections  lead  us  to  the  consideration  of 
some  not  very  dissimilar  events,  which  had  long  been 
secretly  ripening,  but  which  did  not  fully  develope 
themselves  until  1833,  and  which  took  their  rise  in 
the  city  of  Cayes. 

This  important  place  is  situated  on  the  southern 
side  of  the  great  Peninsula,  running  in  rather  a  west 
erly  direction  from  Port  au  Prince,  and  is  considered 
a  second-rate  city,  with  a  population  of  some  ten  thou 
sand.  It  is  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  miles  from 
the  capital,  and  is  of  great  commercial  importance. 

In  1831  this  capital  of  the  South  was  visited  by  a 
dreadful  hurricane,  which  nearly  destroyed  it. 
About  the  dates  last  mentioned,  this  city  of  Cayes 
was  the  source  and  centre  of  such  political  views  and 
feelings,  as  ultimately  brought  on  a  most  unhappy 
and  ruinous  train  of  events. 

Two  representatives — one  from  the  Arrondisse- 
ment  of  Cayes,  and  the  other  from  that  of  Acquin — 
one  known  as  Herard  Dumesle,  and  the  other  as 
David  St.  Preux,  were  elected  in  the  usual  way  to 
represent  the  two  last  named  places. 


172  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

"Whether  these  men  were  of  good  or  bad  faith  in 
themselves  individually,  is  not  so  much  the  present 
question,  as  the  fact  that  they  did  legitimately 
represent  the  feelings  and  wishes  of  a  great,  if  not 
the  greater  portion,  of  the  enlightened  and  well  dis 
posed  part  of  the  nation.  We  say  the  enlightened 
part  of  the  nation,  because  the  best  friends  of  Boyer 
must  admit  that  the  masses  had  been  left  to  them 
selves,  as  to  education  of  any  kind,  and  therefore 
could  not  enter  into  the  merits  of  the  case ;  nor  could 
they  be  expected  to  do  otherwise  than  allow  them 
selves  to  be  borne  away  by  any  political  storm  which 
might  occur.  Surely  there  is  guilt,  which  no  rea 
soning  can  efface,  in  allowing  the  masses  of  a  nation, 
and  especially  of  a  Republic,  to  be  the  mere  dupes  of 
designing  men. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  direct,  and  really 
originating  cause  of  the  stand  taken  by  these  two 
representatives,  certain  it  is  that  they  did  represent 
a  rapidly  increasing  and  already  powerful  party  in 
the  nation,  whose  feelings  and  opinions  were,  that 
the  country  did  not  move  on  in  the  path  of  general 
progress,  either  so  much  or  so  rapidly  as  was  desi 
rable.  This  party,  evidently  supported  by  the  pub 
lic  mind,  at  last  became  bold  in  their  declarations 
that  education,  arts,  sciences,  and  the  general  de 
velopment  of  the  resources  of  the  country,  had  been 
comparatively  neglected,  and  in  fact,  that  the  whole 
nation  was  altogether  behind  the  onward  movement 
and  spirit  of  the  age. 

Some  aver  that  this  party  originated  in  1825,  on 
the  question  of  the  indemnity  to  the  French  Govern 
ment,  which  so  thoroughly  agitated  the  public  mind. 


FROM  HISTORICAL  NOTES.  173 

It  was  thought  that  the  payment  of  this  immense 
sum  to  the  French,  looked  too  much  like  purchasing 
the  national  liberty,  which  had  been  bravely  and 
fairly  won.  That  such  should  have  been  the  views 
of  some  Haytians,  will  be  very  easily  understood, 
yet  it  cannot  be  denied  that  Boyer's  government 
maintained  the  national  honor  in  this  affair  ;  but  the 
really  originating  cause  of  this  movement  is  of  com 
paratively  little  importance,  for  whatever  that  may 
have  been,  it  is  certain  that  it  ultimately  assumed  for 
its  object  and  end,  the  more  rapid  progress  of  the  na 
tion  in  all  respects,  nor  can  it  be  denied  that  this 
great  movement  was  commenced  in  an  entirely  con 
stitutional  manner. 

The  people  of  the  two  places  named  as  situated  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  Island,  by  a  fair  and  popular 
election  according  to  the  usages  and  laws  of  the  Re 
public,  sent  to  the  Legislature  the  men  who  truly  and 
honestly  represented  their  views  and  opinions  with 
regard  to  the  general  state  of  this  country,  on  which  sub 
ject  they  had  an  undoubted  right  to  form  an  opinion. 

The  course  pursued  in  this  case,  both  by  the  people 
and  their  representatives,  was  honorable  and  dignified, 
and  affords  proof  that  the  people  of  Ilayti,  in  this 
case,  understood  their  duty  as  Republican  citizens. 
That  this  ought  to  have  been  met  with  equal  dignity 
on  the  part  of  the  executive,  must  be  admitted  ;  there 
was  here  the  fair  and  open  expression  of  the  people's 
wishes,  of  whom,  according  to  the  spirit  of  Repub 
licanism,  the  Chief  Magistrate  had  constituted  him 
self  the  servant,  but  the  President  rather  assumed  the 
position  of  a  man  attacked,  than  otherwise,  and 
hence  replied  by  frowns  and  threats. 


174  HA  YUAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

In  a  message  from  President  Boyer  to  the  House 
of  Representatives,  in  reply  to  an  address  to  him 
from  that  body,  he  deplores  the  "blindness  of  spirit" 
of  the  party  in  question,  and  speaks  of  the  two  repre 
sentatives  as  "les  coupables," — guilty  men. 

The  House,  however,  expelled  the  two  members 
in  question — H.  Dumesle,  and  David  St.  Pretix — 
and  having  informed  his  Excellency  of  what  they 
had  done,  his  reply,  containing  the  words  already 
quoted,  is  dated  August  the  19th,  1833. 

The  question  now  is,  of  what  had  these  men  been 
guilty  ?  Had  they  done  anything  more  than  to  re 
present,  in  a  constitutional  manner,  the  convictions 
and  the  wishes  of  their  own  constituents,  and  pro 
bably  of  the  majority  of  the  enlightened  part  of  the 
nation?  If  so,  on  which  side  was  the  blindness  al 
ready  complained  of?  If  the  Executive  is  charged  to 
see  that  the  laws  and  institutions  of  the  country  work 
freely,  the  position  of  the  President  in  this  case 
gives  a  fair  demonstration  of  error,  with  regard  to 
the  parties  expelled  from  the  House  of  Kepresenta- 
tives,  in  this  affair. 

The  demand  of  the  people  was  not  only  honest  and 
just  in  itself,  but  it  was  constitutionally  made;  why 
then  should  it  not  have  been  listened  to  ?  The  party 
in  power  indeed  reasoned,  that  one  step  yielded 
would  simply  lead  to  another,  and  so  on  unceasingly; 
thus  strangely  forgetting  that  legitimate,  constitu 
tional  demands  for  improvement,  are  not  only  the 
true  order  of  things  among  men,  but  the  only  safe 
one.  Why  should  an  honest  and  really  progressive 
government,  fear  the  honest  and  constitutionally  ex 
pressed  demands  of  the  people  ?  The  true  and  real 


FRCM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  175 

interests  of  the  nation  are  not,  and  cannot  be  di 
vided. 

However  good  the  intentions  of  the  government 
may  have  been  in  this  case, — and  there  is  no  reason 
to  doubt  them — the  soundness  of  its  judgment  was 
doubtful,  and  the  evidence  here  is  clear,  that  the 
wisdom  of  a  united  people  was  safer  and  greater 
than  that  of  a  single  individual ;  the  former  spoke 
legitimately,  and  the  latter  was  bound  at  least  to 
give  ear.* 

But  Boyer  succeeded,  and  the  obnoxious  men 
were  expelled  from  the  Chamber  of  Representatives. 
The  legality  of  this  act,  or  whether  there  was  no  bet 
ter  or  safer  course  to  adopt,  need  not  now  be  consid 
ered.  The  fact  is  now  undeniably  before  us,  that 
this  was  the  starting  point  for  much  unhappiness  to 
Hayti;  but  whether  the  spring  of  the  revolutions 
which  followed  was,  in  this  case,  in  the  government 
or  the  people,  will  be  for  posterity  to  judge.  Noth 
ing,  however,  can  be  more  evident,  than  that  a  great 
blow  was  here  inflicted ;  but  whether  he  who  in 
flicted  it,  or  those  on  whom  it  fell,  suffered  the  most, 
or  who  were  the  real  victims  of  this  political  crisis, 
is  a  question  fairly  open  to  all  parties,  and  is  highly 
worthy  of  a  fair  and  candid  examination. 

The  representatives  returned  to  their  homes,  but 
it  was  soon  found,  that  although  the  President  had 
prostrated  his  opponents,  he  had  not  prostrated  their 

*  The  executives  in  H*yti  seem  not  to  remember,  that  in  cm- 
ploying  invectives  against  revolutionary  opponents,  which  perhaps 
their  own  errors  have  created,  they  lower  themselves,  and  thus 
bring  a  shade  upon  the  whole  nation.  Let  them  rather  watch  tho 
public  mind,  and  learn  to  know  wlioii,  and  how,  to  stoop  ! 


176  HAYTIAN  INDEPENDENCE, 

opinions.  On  the  contrary,  during  the  time  which 
passed  over,  until  the  next  general  election,  the 
attitude  of  the  government  was  constantly  observed 
by  the  people,  and  contemplated,  perhaps,  with  in 
creasing  dissatisfaction  ;  the  wish  for  a  more  rapid 
movement  in  the  nation's  onward  course,  became 
the  more  intense  from  the  very  fact  that  the  govern 
ment  seemed  to  oppose  it.  Matters  thus  slept  for  a 
time. 

In  1834,  one  of  those  silent  events  took  place  in 
Hayti,  which  in  the  estimation  of  the  world  is  gene 
rally  of  but  little  importance  ;  although  to  the  more 
closely  thinking,  it  would  be  viewed  as  one  which 
would  tell  powerfully  upon  those  imperishable 
interests  of  mankind,  which  the  Christian  so  fully 
accepts  as  a  reality. 

The  event  now  referred  to,  \vas  the  arrival  of  the 
Rev.  John  Tindall,  an  English  Wesleyan  Missionary. 
This  gentleman  had  been  appointed  by  the  British 
Methodist  Conference,  of  the  old  connection  estab 
lished  by  the  Rev.  J.  Wesley,  to  occupy  the  station 
of  Puerto  Plata,  in  the  Spanish  part  of  the  Island  of 
Hayti,  which  at  that  time  was  under  the  liaytian 
Flag. 

Mr.  Tindall's  mission  had  special  reference  to  the 
American  colored  people,  who  had  emigrated  from 
the  United  States  to  Hayti,  during  a  previous  great 
immigration  which  had  been  set  on  foot  by  the 
Haytian  government  in  1824,  and  from  which  event 
we  very  distinctly  learn,  that  the  leading  minds  of 
Hayti  at  that  time  were  convinced  that  the  intro 
duction  of  a  suitable  foreign  element  was  needful 
to  this  Republic,  and  that  for  the  Haytians  to  be 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  177 

shut  up  in  themselves  was  not  to  their  own  in 
terests. 

These  American  immigrants  on  their  arrival  lo 
cated  in  different  parts  of  the  country ;  some  at 
Samana,  towards  the  eastern  end  of  Hayti ;  others 
in  the  Spanish  city  of  St.  Domingo,  and  Puerto 
Plata;  while  some  established  themselves  in  the 
Capital  of  the  French  part  of  the  Island. 

It  would  appear  that  representations  had  been 
made  to  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Missionary  Com 
mittee  of  London,  by  some  American  immigrants 
residing  at  Puerto  Plata,  as  to  their  spiritual  wants, 
and  the  result  was  that  the  above  named  Missionary 
was  sent ;  this  was  the  introduction  of  a  new  moral 
element  into  the  Spanish  part  of  Hayti.  The 
Spaniards  were,  and  remained  inaccessible  to  Pro 
testantism,  but  the  Protestant  missionary  was  treated 
with  the  greatest  respect,  and  the  American  colored 
people  received  their  requested  minister  with  great 
affection. 

Mr.  Tindall  was  encouraged  and  sustained  by 
many  influential  gentlemen  in  that  part  of  the 
country,  and  before  long  Mission  premises  were 
secured  at  Puerto  Plata,  the  situation  of  which,  on 
an  eminence,  is  healthy  and  beautiful.  A  neat  little 
Church,  capable  of  containing  nearly  two  hundred, 
together  with  a  parsonage  house,  were  before  long 
erected  by  the  great  activity,  perseverance  and  zeal 
of  the  Missionary ;  in  fact  as  far  as  the  American 
colored  people  were  concerned,  the  two  stations  of 
Puerto  Plata  and  Samana  were  soon  prosperous  and 
interesting.  The  distance,  however,  between  the 


178  HATTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

two  places,  is  perhaps  nearly  two  hundred  miles, 
leading  over  bays,  rivers,  and  roads,  which  are  both 
dangerous  and  fatiguing,  and  therefore  the  work  at 
first  was  exhausting. 

In  1839  the  health  of  the  worthy  Missionary 
failed,  and  he  was  under  the  necessity  of  retiring 
from  the  Mission  field,  having  as  his  last  eifort 
formed  a  Station  at  Cape  Haytien,  in  the  French 
part  of  the  Island,  from  whence  he  finally  em 
barked  for  Europe. 

Mr.  Tindall  had  been  joined  in  this  Mission,  by 
the  Rev.  W.  T.  Cardy,  whose  residence  and  faithful 
labors  at  Samana  were  highly  useful,  as  they  subse 
quently  were,  also,  at  Gonaives  &  Jeremie,  at 
which  places  this  worthy  and  laborious  Missionary 
was  greatly  beloved. 

In  1837  this  Mission  was  reinforced  by  the  arrival 
of  the  Rev.  "W.  Touler,  who  remained  principally  at 
Puerto  Plata,  although  visiting  occasionally  the 
distant  station  of  Samana.  The  two  last  Mission 
aries,  as  well  as  the  first,  were  intelligent  men, 
worthy  and  capable  of  their  great  work,  and  they 
possessed  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  parties. 

About  this  time,  Dr.  England  of  Charleston  in  the 
United  States  of  America,  Roman  Catholic  Bishop, 
visited  Hayti  as  the  Pope's  Legate,  with  a  view  to 
establish  the  supremacy  of  the  Court  of  Rome  over 
the  clergy  of  Hayti.  This  Prelate  was  received 
with  every  mark  of  distinction,  but  the  object  of  his 
mission  was  at  that  time  altogether  unpopular,  Hayti 
having  hitherto  looked  with  great  suspicion,  and 
even  dread,  on  any  Papal  ascendency  in  the  nation. 
The  whole  Roman  Catholic  clergy  had  up  to  that 


FROM    HISTORICAL   NOTES.  179 

time  been  entirely  under  the  control  of  "LeMinistre 
des  Cultes."* 

The  Eoman  Catholic  clergy,  in  its  then  state, 
without  Archiepiscopal  control,  is  described  in  a 
printed  address  to  the  nation,  by  the  principal 
Secretary  of  State,  in  which  is  found  the  following 
remarkable  sentence : 

"  What  dreadful  evils  must  result  from  the  examples  thus  set 
by  the  priests,  who  without  regard  to  those  who  are  confided 
to  their  Pastoral  guidance,  give  themselves  up  to  all  sorts  of 
abominations,  who  betray  both  the  paternal  government  which 
affords  them  protection,  and  the  Almighty  Himself  whose  mi 
nisters  they  are."  t 

A  more  terrible  description  of  an  Ecclesiastical 
body  could  scarcely  be  conceived. 

In  1838  the  Government  issued  a  decree  for  the 
establishment  of  a  school  of  navigation.  Such  an 
idea,  for  an  insular  people,  does  indeed  appear  to  be 
natural,  and  is  one  among  the  innumerable  proofs 
we  already  have  of  the  design  of  Providence,  that 
our  necessities  should  promote  our  civilization  and 
elevation.  The  number  of  students  in  this  projected 
institution  was  not  to  exceed  twelve.^ 

There  was  indeed  nothing  at  this  time  worth  call 
ing  a  fleet,  commercially  or  otherwise,  as  to  Haytian 
constructions ;  but  the  carrying  out  of  this  measure 
might  ultimately  have  led  to  this,  while  it  might 
also  have  tended  to  occupy  the  national  mind,  not 
only  by  the  high  character  of  the  enterprise,  but  it 

*  The  Secretary  of  State,  who  is  charged  with  all  the  interests 
of  public  worship,  &c.,  as  to  the  church  connected  with  the  State, 
t  General  Inginac. 
t  L'Union,  Decem.  1837. 


180  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

would  also  have  created  another  elevating  branch  of 
industry  in  the  nation.  Inconstancy,  however,  was 
written  on  this  measure.  Still,  the  idea  was  good  and 
praiseworthy;  the  mind  which  conceived  it  was 
doubtless  alive  to  the  dignity  of  true  national  inde 
pendence  ;  and  the  main  thing  to  be  deplored  is,  that 
a  people  and  country  possessing  every  resource  for 
such  an  undertaking,  should  not  also  have  possessed 
the  spirit  and  energy  to  carry  out  and  realize  what 
was  seen  to  be  so  desirable. 

In  the  course  of  events,  during  these  compara 
tively  quiet  days,  it  was  proposed  to  President  Boyer, 
by  an  English  gentleman,  then  residing  in  the 
Spanish  part  of  the  island,  whose  name  will  be 
remembered  for  many  years  to  come,  to  render 
navigable  the  river  Yaqui  in  that  part  of  the  coun 
try.  It  would  seem  that  the  idea  was  to  render  that 
fine  stream  available  for  steam,  which  would  doubt 
less  have  been  of  incalculable  importance  in  the 
transport  of  produce  for  many  miles  through  the 
interior ;  but  this  hope  also  went  out  in  disappoint 
ment — quenched  in  sheer  timidity — which  was  in 
reality  prudence  pushed  to  an  excess,  although  it 
need  occasion  no  surprise  that  foreign  influence  in 
any  form  should  have  been  deprecated,  and  even 
feared  at  that  time. 

In  fact,  notwithstanding  the  many  indications  of 
restlessness  and  dissatisfaction  throughout  the  nation, 
the  old  routine  of  things,  and  that  only,  was  deemed 
safe,  and  improvements  generally  appeared  to  be 
considered  unsafe  if  not  dangerous.  Foreign  energy 
seemed  to  be  dreaded  as  a  something,  which  if  allowed 
full  sweep,  would  soon  overwhelm  everything  that 


FKOM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  181 

was  native ;  a  fear  which  at  that  time  was  not  un 
natural,  and  will  easily  be  understood,  when  it  is 
remembered  that  while  slavery  reigned  throughout 
the  entire  West  Indies,  the  Haytian  had  reason  to 
be  suspicious  of  a  brutal  energy  which,  in  the  name 
of  slavery,  was  destroying  liberty  and  life  all  around 
her  beyond  her  own  shores. 

It  is  true  indeed,  that  the  foregoing  statements 
amply  justify  the  Haytians  in  the  policy  which  they 
adopted  in  closing  their  country.  Yet  the  fact 
remains,  and  cannot  be  changed,  that  a  closed  coun 
try  will  ultimately  find  itself  in  the  case  of  stagnant 
waters,  so  that  its  very  resources  will  seem  to  perish. 
The  life-giving  stream  of  full  and  free  intercourse 
with  all  mankind  must  bound  and  flow  through 
every  interest,  or  the  whole  nation  will  become 
dreamy  and  inactive.  Hayti  has  now  to  study  the 
totally  new  order  of  things  which  has  come  about 
in  the  world. 

England,  France,  and  America,  are  now  the  friends 
of  Liberty.  They  themselves  are  open  to  all,  not 
withstanding  prudential  guards  placed  on  their  re 
spective  nationalities ;  nor  need  there  any  longer  be 
any  scruple,  hesitation,  or  delicacy  in  recognizing 
the  straight-forward  duty  of  the  Haytian  nation  to 
go  onward  in  the  general  march  of  humanity. 

It  is  evident  that  the  eyes  of  the  Haytian  people 
were  now  opening.  The  enlightened  part  of  the 
community  saw  and  felt  that  as  a  Republic  they  were 
being  left  far  behind  the  onward  movement  of  the 
age.  The  Government  seemed  to  resist  improve 
ment  from  fear  of  innovation,  as  though  it  were 
really  dangerous  for  a  nation  to  advance  otherwise 


182  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

than  as  its  mere  instincts  might  force  it  on;  it  was 
not  perceived  that  stagnation  was  ruin. 

But  it  soon  became  evident,  that  to  resist  perse- 
veringly  the  honest  and  constitutionally  expressed 
wishes  of  the  people  was  to  endanger  both  those  who 
govern  andsthe  governed — so  unavailing  are  the  les 
sons  and  warnings  of  history.  The  great  idea  was. 
that  the  Haytians  were  an  exceptional  people,  and 
therefore  needed  an  exceptional  Government.  Doubt 
less,  as  is  the  case  with  all  nations,  there  are  pecu 
liarities  which  attach  to  Ilayti  only,  as  a  nation  ; 
but  it  was  forgotten  that  there  are  cardinal  princi 
ples  relating  to  the  Government  of  nations,  which 
neither  Hayti  nor  any  other  nation  can  depart  from 
with  impunity. 

The  next  general  election  came  on,  and  the  ex 
pelled  Representatives  were  returned,  with  their 
party  greatly  increased  and  their  views  and  princi 
ples  more  widely  extended  than  ever,  and  also  more 
matured. 

The  following  extract  from  "  Notes  on  Hayti," 
by  an  observant  English  traveler,  who  visited  the 
Haytian  Republic  about  this  time,  will  enable  us  to 
form  a  general  idea  of  the  case  before  us. 

"Do  the  people,  who  feel  this  oppression,  look  to  their  Repre 
sentatives  for  help?  They  know  that  all  appeal  of  this  sort 
will  be  useless.  Only  four  years  ago,  1838,  in  consequence 
of  a  bold  address  to  the  President,  a  strife  was  stirred  up  be 
tween  the  two  Houses  of  the  Legislature,  and  the  House  of 
Representatives  was  prevailed  upon,  by  a  majority,  to  expel 
six  of  its  best  and  most  honest  members.  It  is  impossible  to 
read  the  proceedings  and  notes  of  this  little  Parliament  with 
out  at  once  seeing  on  which  side  the  wrong  lies.  The  following 
sensible  and  spirited  remarks,  contained  in  an  address,  occa- 


FROM!    HISTORICAL   NOTES.  183 

sioned  the  disturbance.  But  what  shall  we  say  of  the  subser 
viency  of  a  legislative  body  that  adopted  such  a  resolution  by 
acclamation,  one  month,  and  pronounced  a  vote  of  expulsion  on 
its  supporter  the  next  ? 

u  '  The  clashing  of  fundamental  principles  with  the  details 
of  the  Constitution,  is  a  contradiction  which  must  disappear 
from  the  code  of  rights  and  duties ;  experience  proclaims  this 
truth.  The  nation  entreats  you  then,  to  give  it  security  for  the 
future ;  you  have  the  power  and  the  genius  to  do  so.  At 
present,  peace  is  undisturbed  and  secure,  it  is  therefore  no  time 
for  delay.  Express  but  the  wish,  and  regenerating  hands  will 
reconstruct  the  social  system,  reanimate  our  institutions,  and 
save  us  from  decay.' 

"  The  House  then  goes  on  to  request  from  the  President,  the 
projects  of  new  laws  suited  to  the  exigency  of  the  times, 
among  which  are  enumerated  a  law  to  insure  the  responsibility 
of  public  functionaries,  to  alter  the  Custom  House  duties,  to 
fix  the  rate  of  interest,  and  repress  usury,  to  restrict  the  power 
now  given  to  the  justices  of  the  peace,  to  determine  suits  on 
summary  conviction  without  appeal,  and  a  law  to  modify  the 
severities  of  the  'Code  Rurale,'  which  it  denounces  as  at  variance 
with  the  public  feeling,  and  therefore  inoperative  to  its  end ; 
observing  also — 

"  'If  we  examine  at  the  present  moment  the  instability  of  cer 
tain  laws,  we  shall  be  astonished  to  see  them  stopped  suddenly, 
as  if  struck  with  inertia,  after  having  taken  a  rapid  stride  ;  of 
this  number  is  the  '  Rural  Code,' — it  has  fallen,  and  its  fall  has 
crushed  Agriculture,  although  it  must  be  confessed,  it  has  only 
experienced  the  fate  of  all  institutions  that  are  opposed  to  the 
spirit  of  an  improving  age.' 

"  But  the  President  thought  them  too  much  in  advance  of  the 
age,  and  requiring  more  than  the  public,  or  the  people  at  large, 
could  bear.  He  therefore  caused  the  Assembly  to  be  deci 
mated,  and  made  their  own  votes  the  executioner  of  his  secret 
decree.  The  Government  is  in  fact  a  military  despotism  in  the 
hands  of  one  man — mild  and  merciful,  it  is  true,  and  desiring 
the  welfare  of  his  country,  but  mistaken  in  some  of  his  views — 
and  therefore  acting  in  a  manner  utterly  opposed  to  the  public 
good."* 

*  J.  Gaudier. 


184:  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

It  will  be  admitted  tliat  the  foregoing  reasonings 
from  the  Representatives  fully  indicate  a  class  of 
mind  quite  equal  to  the  exigencies  of  the  country, 
and  capable  of  maintaining  its  dignity.  This  in  fact 
has  ever  been  the  case  with  Hayti ;  nor  does  there 
seem  to  have  been,  on  the  part  of  this  Ilaytian  Par 
liament,  any  want  of  confidence  in  the  entire  capacity 
and  general  ability  of  the  President,  as  a  man  of 
intelligence,  to  understand  the  great  necessity  of  the 
moment;  why  therefore  the  pleadings,  reasonings, 
and  representations  of  the  Representatives,  which 
were  so  full  of  sound  principle  and  evident  good  will, 
should  not  have  met  with  due  deference  from  the 
President,  is  not  easily  understood,  and  seems  rather 
to  argue  either  obliquity  of,  mind  or  vanity,  or  both, 
than  otherwise,  such  too  as  posterity  will  condemn ; 
while  the  statements  and  arguments  of  the  Legisla 
tive  body,  as  well  as  the  frank,  courteous,  and  con 
stitutional  manner  in  which  they  are  expressed,  will 
ever  command  the  approval  of  the  world,  and  at  the 
same  time  remain  as  a  demonstration  that  Hayti 
then  possessed  men  who  fully  understood  the  wants 
of  their  country.  Failure  indeed  followed  all,  but 
this  has  simply  demonstrated  that  mere  intelligence, 
however  great,  cannot  suffice. 

Kulers  often  stoop  to  conquer. 

On  the  part  of  the  Executive,  this  whole  affair 
was  doubtless  considered  as  a  great  coup  d'Etat,  as 
indeed  it  really  was.  It  is  nevertheless  a  sad  fact, 
that  the  force  of  this  great  blow  ultimately  broke  the 
misguided  arm  which  inflicted  it,  and  rendered  those 
on  whom  it  fell  miserably  triumphant.  Up  to  this 


FKOM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  185 

day  Hajti  has  been  suffering  from  this  error  in  the 
ruling  judgment. 

A  faithful  adherence  to  the  laws  and  institutions 
of  the  nation  would  have  saved  Boyer  and  his 
unhappy,  although  deserving  people,  many  a  pang ; 
so  truly  do  governments,  ofttimes  unconsciously, 
occasion  revolutions. 

President  Boyer's  mind  was  entirely  French.  His 
views  of  government  had  been  formed  principally 
upon  a  French  model ;  he  was  altogether  military, 
from  the  fact  of  his  career  having  been  entirely 
under  arms,  although  he  gave  full  proof  of  his  inten 
tion  ultimately  to  supersede  the  military  by  the  civil 
power.  It  is  true  that  his  distinguished  predecessor, 
Petion,  had  been  trained  in  the  same  school,  although 
of  enlarged  views  and  principles  ;  but  the  same  edu 
cation  does  not  always  produce  the  same  mind. 

Another  peculiarity,  of  a  more  or  less  moral  bear 
ing  upon  Haytian  society,  is  the  existence,  on  a  large 
scale,  of  the  Masonic  order  throughout  the  Republic. 

Whatever  be  the  mysteries  of  this  order,  if  it  has 
any  at  all,  the  continual  declaration  of  that  body  has 
been,  that  the  object  and  end  of  the  institution  is, 
to  teach  man  that  there  is  a  great  First  Cause  of  all 
things,  and  also  to  inculcate  the  purest  morality.  It 
is  evident  too,  that  the  Scriptures,  which  they  bear 
with  great  formality  in  their  public  processions,  are 
considered  by  them  as  the  ground-work  and  founda 
tion  of  the  Masonic  structure,  and  that  these  same 
sacred  oracles  are  freely  open  to  the  examination  of 
all.  This,  at  least,  is  freedom  of  religious  thought, 
leading  to  an  independence  of  all  ecclesiastical  tribu 
nals.  Whether  such  an  independence  is  right  or 


186  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

wrong,  we  will  not  now  discuss ;  but  it  cannot  be 
doubted  that  this  institution  has  had  its  effect  upon 
the  Hoinan  Catholic  community  of  Hayti,  and  pos 
sibly  may  have  tended  to  produce  that  love  of  reli 
gious  liberty  which,  it  must  be  admitted,  has  long 
distinguished  this  Republic.  This  will  become  the 
more  apparent  when  it  is  remembered  that  another 
cardinal  point  in  this  order  is,  that  all  religious 
opinions  are  entirely  free,  and  that  religious  liberty 
should  be  entire  ;  and  to  add  to  all  which  has  now 
been  advanced,  it  should  be  noted,  that  the  Chief 
Magistrate  of  the  nation,  has  almost,  if  not  quite, 
invariably  been  the  protector  of  Free  Masonry  in 
Hayti. 

It  is  not  at  all  extraordinary  at  Port  au  Prince  to 
see  a  Protestant  minister  conducting  to  his  church 
the  remains  of  one  of  his  communion,  followed  by  a 
respectable  concourse  of  Masonic  Eoman  Catholics, 
and  joining  with  great  solemnity  in  the  sublime 
burial-service  of  the  Church  of  England. 

Nothing  more  is  intended,  in  what  is  here  said 

O  ' 

of  the  Order  of  Freemasons,  than  to  show  that  this 
institution  is  so  widely  extended  in  Hayti  that  it  has 
become  a  distinct  feature  in  Haytian  society,  and 
may  possibly  have  given  more  or  less  stimulus  to  the 
general  question  of  religious  liberty  in  that  Re 
public. 

It  is  supposed  that  there  are  about  a  thousand 
Freemasons  in  the  city  of  Port  au  Prince ;  and  in  all 
the  second  and  third  rate  towns,  as  well  as  even  in 
some  of  the  villages,  their  numbers  are  in  similar 
proportion  with  the  communities  in  which  they 
exist. 


FROM   HISTORICAL  NOTES.  187 

But  the  prominent  and  distinguishing  peculiarity 
of  the  Haytian  nation  is  its  military  system,  which, 
as  it  originated  under  extraordinary  circumstances, 
will  now  for  a  moment  engage  our  special  attention. 
The  well-authenticated  notes  of  the  English  traveler, 
already  referred  to,*  will  greatly  help  us  in  this 
matter. 

"  The  last  account  in  detail,  placed  in  my  hands  by  the  Gov 
ernment,  gives  the  following  enumeration  : 

"Under  the  head  of  Military  Commanders  of  Districts,  there 
are  nine  generals,  fifteen  brigadier-generals,  sixty-three  colonels, 
forty-eight  lieutenant-colonels,  nine  captains,  and  twenty  medi 
cal  men,  whose  united  pay  amounted  to  188,407  dollars,  or 
15,700  pounds  sterling.  The  pay  of  a  general  is  £225  per  an 
num,  that  of  a  brigadier-general  £170,  that  of  a  colonel  £125. 

"  The  Standing  Army  consist?,  in  addition,  of  33  colonels,  95 
lieutenant-colonels,  825  captains,  654  lieutenants,  377  sub 
lieutenants,  6,815  non-commissioned  officers,  25  medical  men,  and 
]  9,129  rank  and  file.  Total,  28,151.  The  pay  of  a  common 
soldier  is  £3  per  annum,  for  one  week  on  duty  out  of  every 
three,  being  at  the  rate  of  three  shillings  (English)  per  week, 
for  every  week  that  each  soldier  musters  on  parade.  The  total 
cost  of  the  army,  in  1838,  including  the  arsenals,  hospitals, 
marines,  was,  in  Haytian  dollars,  $1,418,557,  or  £118,213.  A 
small  sum  for  the  maintenance  of  such  an  immense  standing 
army,  but  a  much  larger  sum  than  Ilayti  can  afford  to  pay. 

The  army  is  in  a  state  of  gradual  reduction ;  its  numerical 
force  in  1840  was  25,000. 

By  the  present  arrangements,  the  common  soldier  attends 
one  week  on  duty  in  the  muster-field,  and  is  left  at  liberty  to 
go  to  his  own  home,  or  to  procure  work  where  he  can  the  two 
succeeding  weeks,  hence  there  is  but  little  time  for  agriculture, 
especially  if  the  distance  from  home  is  considered." 

With  regard  to  military  discipline,  although  but 
little  can  be  said,  yet  it  must  not  be  imagined  that 
*  J.  Candler. 


188  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

there  is  none ;  and  notwithstanding  much  has  been 
said  on  this  subject  that  is  unfavorable  to  the  Hay- 
tian  nation,  we  have  only  to  remember  that  the  arms 
of  Hayti  won,  and  have  maintained  their  indepen 
dence,  against  forces  and  discipline  far  superior  to 
their  own ;  nor  let  it  be  for  a  moment  supposed  that 
life  and  liberty  would  be  less  sternly  defended  in  the 
present  day  than  in  former  times,  were  any  such 
emergency,  in  any  sense  or  manner,  to  occur. 

Happy,  indeed,  would  it  be  for  the  world,  if  all 
arms  were  beaten  into  ploughshares ;  but  in  the 
present  state  of  human  nature,  this  is  perhaps  too 
much  to  expect,  not  to  say  impossible. 

About  this  time  also  existed  a  national  guard  in 
Hayti,  of  some  40,000  men,  which,  with  the  regular 
army,  made  an  armed  body  of  65,000  soldiers,  out  of 
much  less  than  a  million  of  people,  constituting  the 
population  of  the  entire  island ;  for  it  must  be  re 
membered  that  at  the  date  last  mentioned  the  Spanish 
part  of  the  island  was  united  with  the  Haytian 
Republic ;  in  fact,  it  must  be  admitted,  that  the 
Haytian,  nation  present  the  most  singular  organiza 
tion  of  things  that  can  well  be  conceived  of,  but  it 
must  be  borne  in  mind  that  this  singular  state  of 
things  has  resulted  from  the  peculiar  circumstances 
which  gave  birth  to  the  nation.  In  the  commence 
ment  of  their  existence  as  an  independent  people, 
the  Haytians,  as  will  be  understood,  were  all  soldiers, 
and  like  the  Jews  under  Nehemiah,  labored  with 
their  arms  at  hand  ;  in  fact,  in  some  cases  even  the 
women  have  been  engaged  in  some  of  the  great 
struggles  for  national  independence;  a  fact  which, 
while  it  marks  the  history  of  this  extraordinary  little 


FROM  HISTORICAL  NOTES.  189 

country,  at  the  same  time  does  away  with  all  surprise 
at  its  deeply-rooted  military  character. 

Had  the  Haytians  had  nothing  to  fear,  when  once 
their  national  victory  was  complete,  it  might  have 
been  vastly  different  with  them  at  the  present  mo 
ment  ;  but  for  a  long  time  their  affairs  with  France 
remained  in  the  greatest  uncertainty,  and  required 
the  utmost  vigilance,  for  the  former  masters  of  St. 
Domingue  were  anxious  to  re-rivet  its  ancient  chains. 
Deep  plans,  in  the  name  of  liberty,  were  laid  for 
this ;  the  Haytians,  therefore,  could  not  lay  aside 
their  arms  ;  and  even  when  peace  and  security  began 
at  last  to  dawn  upon  the  nation,  and  its  institutions 
seemed  to  assume  organization  and  form,  pride  and 
jealousy,  those  fearful  inmates  of  the  human  heart, 
began  their  dreadful  work;  hence,  those  who  had 
bravely  fought  side  by  side  before  the  common 
enemy,  now  turned  their  swords  against  each  other, 
and  their  arms  were  mutually  stained  with  fratricidal 
blood.  Alas !  they  fell  upon  each  other,  and  by  this 
unhappy  means,  became  yet  more  emphatically  a 
military  people,  and  the  whole  country  was  in  the 
end  a  military  camp.  This  is  indeed  deplorable,  but 
it  is  man  ;  hence,  few  nations  are  more  deeply  stained 
with  fratricidal  blood  than  the  three  great  nations  of 
the  age — England,  France,  and  the  great  Republic 
of  North  America.  This  is  no  justification  for 
Hayti ;  nevertheless,  it  is  man. 

It  cannot,  therefore,  be  wondered  at  that  love  of 
military  life  and  display  should  be  the  result  of  all 
this,  especially  with  an  ignorant  mass,  such  as  the 
great  body  of  Haytians  must  have  been  when  they 
first  became  free ;  moreover,  in  addition  to  all  else 


190  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

which  lias  been  noted,  the  yet  greater  explicative 
must  be  remembered :  Hayti  had  been  cast  in  a 
French  military  mould.  Indeed  it  is  far  more  won 
derful  that  agriculture  and  commerce  should  so  soon 
have  become  so  extensive  as  they  were  than  that 
there  should  have  been  so  little  ;  and  considering 
how  the  military  system  has  ever  prevailed  in  this 
country,  as  the  natural  result  of  things  and  circum 
stances,  it  ought  not  to  and  cannot  fairly  be  won 
dered  at  that  the  general  progress  of  the  nation  has 
been  slow,  or  that  the  views  of  true  liberty,  under 
military  rule,  should  have  been  erroneous. 

Certain  however  it  is,  that  under  Christophe  and 
Petion,  although  in  arms  against  each  other,  much 
was  done  in  the  way  of  general  industry ;  nor  would 
it  be  just  or  fair  to  taunt  such  a  people,  under  such 
circumstances,  with  indolence,  for  it  cannot  be  denied 
that  there  are  but  few  communities,  if  any,  under 
similar  difficulties,  and  in  such  a  climate,  that  would 
be  either  disposed,  or  even  capable  of,  such  a  gene 
ral  amount  of  industry  and  labor.  Yet,  that  inaction 
and  sluggishness,  even  to  an  unhappy  degree,  must 
necessarily  have  been  engendered  by  so  many  thou 
sands  of  men  throughout  the  nation  so  perpetually 
under  arms,  and  consequently  drawn  away  from 
their  homes,  their  fields,  their  commerce,  and  their 
trades  can  easily  be  conceived. 

In  fact,  there  is  much  to  be  said  on  this  subject 
for  a  Haytian  soldier  on  garrison  duty,  notwithstand 
ing  the  degrading  indolence  of  such  a  life,  where 
there  is  neither  the  taste  nor  ability  for  reading,  is 
compelled  to  attend  to  some  branch  of  industry,  his 
pay  not  being  sufficient  to  support  him ;  still  the 


FEOM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  191 

system  is  the  most  unhappy  that  can  well  be  im 
agined  in  its  effects  upon  the  morals  and  general 
civilization  of  the  nation. 

Yet  the  amount  of  industry  which,  under  the  most 
disadvantageous  circumstances,  has  from  the  com 
mencement  been  brought  out  in  Hayti,  leads  fairly 
to  the  conclusion  that  such  a  country,  and  such  a 
people,  under  civil,  and  in  the  right  sense  of  the 
word,  Christian  liberal  institutions,  would  rise  rapidly 
in  prosperity  of  every  kind. 

In  fact,  it  must  be  admitted,  that  with  every  kind 
of  hindrance,  and  even  discouragement,  arising  from 
unsoundness  of  view  and  principle  in  national  rule, 
both  on  the  part  of  the  governing  and  the  governed, 
the  Haytian  people  have  proved  themselves  capable 
of  a  high  degree  of  agricultural  and  commercial  ac 
tivity.  The  moral  maladies  of  the  nation  have  indeed 
crippled  her  in  every  way,  and  it  is  devoutly  to  be 
hoped  that  the  leading  minds  in  this  Eepublic  will 
at  last  become  religiously  convinced  that  their  only 
hope  is  in  the  practical  working  of  those  principles 
which  were  preached  by  the  Son  of  God  on  earth. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Arrival  of  M.  B.  Bird  at  the  Cape. — Arrival  of  J.  T.  Hartwell  at 
Port  au  Prince. — Clergy  responsible  to  the  "Minister  des 
Cultes." — J.  Candler  and  the  Priest. — Different  classes  of  Fu 
nerals. — Atheism  in  Hayti. — A  National  University  desirable. — 
School  for  Medicine. — The  Earthquake  of  1842. — No  foreign 
sympathy  for  Hayti.— Opening  of  the  Wesleyan  Church  at  Port 
au  Prince. — Journey  through  the  Spanish  part. 


Temples  of  Truth,  and  Halls  of  Science,  spring 
From  Love,  and  knowledge  of  the  Great  First  Cause. 

IN  January,  1840,  another  English  Wesleyan  Mis 
sionary — M.  B.  Bird,  with  his  wife  and  infant  son — 
landed  at  Cape  Haytien. 

This  missionary  was  well  received  by  the  Protest 
ants  of  the  rather  handsome  city  of  the  Cape.  From 
the  Roman  Catholics,  also,  he  received  every  mark 
of  respect  and  kindness  ;  but  ina  moral  and  religious 
point  of  view,  all  around  appeared  to  be  sterile. 

"With  regard  to  evangelical  Protestantism,  a  few 
American  colored  immigrants  constituted  a  small 
band  of  less  than  a  dozen  individuals,  who  were 
united  together  in  church  fellowship. 

In  the  French  department  of  the  Wesleyan  Mis 
sion  at  Cape  Haytien,  no  Protestant  Church  as  yet 
existed.  Public  services  in  the  French  language  had 
been  held,  but  the  number  of  hearers  was  rarely 
more  than  a  dozen — and  frequently  not  so  many — 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  193 

^ 

while  the  prospects,  as  might  be  expected  in  a  Roman 
Catholic  community,  were  not  encouraging. 

The  newly-arrived  missionary  soon  felt  the  peculiar 
difficulties  of  his  post.  He,  however,  promptly  visited 
the  people  generally,  irrespective  of  creed.  A  fine 
development  of  feeling  was  the  result ;  for  although 
an  entire  stranger,  he  was  everywhere  very  kindly 
received. 

The  following  year,  1841,  the  Eev.  J.  T.  Hartwell, 
another  English  Wesleyan  Missionary,  landed  at 
Port  an  Prince. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  a  small  church,  of  the 
"Wesleyan  Methodist  communion,  had  been  formed 
at  the  capital  during  the  years  1816  to  1818. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  last-named  missionary,  this 
interesting  little  church  still  existed,  consisting  of 
French  Haytians ;  some  of  the  colored  Americans 
had  also  united  themselves  to  the  English  branch  of 
this  Mission,  so  that  the  field  was  here  more  or  less 
prepared.  All  had  indeed  been  sustained  and  car 
ried  on  in  comparative  obscurity,  yet  much  had  been 
done.  Land — although  not  quite  central  as  to  the 
population,  yet  in  many  respects  well  suited,  and  of 
good  dimensions,  being  about  200  feet  in  length  and 
some  90  feet  in  breadth — had  already  been  secured ; 
and  some  few  of  the  natives  had  received  and  sub 
mitted  to  the  Word  of  God,  as  their  sole  guide. 

Mr.  Hartwell,  and  his  truly  estimable  wife,  were 
well  received  and  deservedly  esteemed  by  all  parties 
in  the  capital ;  and  before  long,  this  zealous  and 
laborious  missionary  laid  the  foundation  stone  of  a 
commodious  place  of  worship.  Some  few  funds  had 
been  long  in  hand  for  this  purpose,  and  the  under- 


194  HAYTIAN  INDEPENDENCE, 

taking  was  greatly  encouraged  by  the  foreign  mer 
chants,  who  were  joined  in  their  praiseworthy  liber 
ality  by  the  public  at  large. 

During  the  following  year,  it  pleased  Divine  pro 
vidence  to  remove  by  death  the  beloved  wife  of  this 
esteemed  missionary ;  and  her  mortal  remains  still 
repose  in  peace  at  a  place  called  Post  Marchand,  in 
the  immediate  neighborhood  of  Port  au  Prince. 

It  is  pleasing  to  record  the  appearance  of  such  men 
in  such  a  country ;  and  it  is  also  pleasing  to  attest  the 
fact,  that  in  all  cases  they  have  invariably  been  well 
received  on  their  arrival,  notwithstanding  the  Hay- 
tian  community  is  attached  to  the  Homan  Catholic 
communion. 

In  the  case  of  the  two  first  missionaries  in  1S16, 
persecution  did  indeed  take  place ;  but  their  recep 
tion  was  good,  and  their  success  greatly  encouraging, 
until  a  change  of  Government  took  place  ;  nor  should 
it  be  lost  sight  of,  that  the  Haytians  of  themselves 
are  not  persecuting,  either  in  temper  or  character ; 
in  such  cases,  there  is  generally  another  element  be 
sides  the  native. 

Men  whose  only  business  and  whose  only  aim  is 
to  do  good  of  every  kind,  have  ever  been  appreciated 
by  the  Haytians  themselves ;  yet  a  country  where 
education  and  enlightened  piety  are  wanting  as  na 
tional  elements,  may  be  expected  to  offer  peculiar 
difficulties,  especially  when  the  idea  of  a  national 
and  ancestral  religion  prevails. 

With  regard  to  the  national  ecclesiastical  establish 
ment,  it  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  for  many  years 
after  the  independence  of  Hayti,  the  court  of  Rome 
was  never  able  to  gain  a  permanent  footing  there. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  195 

On  the  part  of  the  Haytians,  this  was  evidently  the 
result  of  much  well  calculated  thought  and  princi 
ple  ;  hence  the  Roman  Catholic  clergy  of  Hayti,  for 
many  years,  was  without  the  presence  of  any  con 
trolling  bishop  over  them,  or  even  any  connection 
with  the  court  of  Rome,  and  consisted  of  Frenchmen, 
Corsicans,  Italians,  or  whoever  else  might  happen  to 
come — their  credentials  being  examined  by  "  le  Mi- 
nistre  des  Cultes,"  to  whom  they  were  in  every  way 
amenable. 

The  Romish  clergy  in  Hayti,  for  a  long  time,  deri 
ved  its  revenue  from  the  fixed  prices  attached  to 
funerals,  masses,  etc.  etc.,  a  considerable  portion  of 
which  was  claimed  by  the  State,  in  consideration  of 
church  repairs  and  other  expenses,  which  it  binds 
itself  to  afford  in  all  cases  of  necessity. 

The  income  of  the  clergy,  therefore,  consisted 
principally  of  their  share  in  the  fees,  when  the 
claims  of  the  State  had  been  met — a  functionary 
being  appointed  to  see  what  was  due  to  both  parties. 
This  individual  bore  the  title  of  "  Marguiller,"  or 
Church  "Warden.  The  country  clergyman,  who  was 
diligent  in  visiting  the  outposts  of  his  parish,  and 
collecting  the  fees  for  baptisms,  masses,  and  all  sorts 
of  funerals — that  is  to  say,  the  first,  second,  and 
third  classes,  into  which  they  are  divided,  each  one 
varying  in  price,  and  consequently  in  the  amount  of 
prayers,  chants,  etc. — frequently  returned  to  Europe 
in  the  end,  well  recompensed. 

The  following  quotation  from  the  English  traveler 
already  mentioned,*  may  throw  some  light  on  this 
subject.  This  gentleman  relates  that  on  one  occa- 

*  J.  Candler. 


196 

sion,  in  conversation  with  an  ecclesiastic,  the  follow 
ing  remarks  took  place  : — 

"  I  ventured  to  remind  him  that  sixty  Haytian  dollars  were 
allowed  by  law,  for  a  funeral  of  the  first-class ;  and  a  dollar  for 
every  baptism.  *  These  dollars,'  said  the  priest,  '  are  the  sweat 
of  our  brows,  but  the  Government  impounds  a  large  amount  of 
them,  and  applies  it  to  other  purposes.  We  only  obtain  twenty 
dollars  for  a  funeral,  and  half  a  dollar  for  a  baptism.  What  is 
half  a  dollar  for  a  baptism  ?'  " 

It  is  indeed  most  unhappy  that  by  such  a  system, 
religion  should  seem  to  be  an  affair  of  merchandize, 
especially  while  other  means  and  plans  might  with  so 
much  ease  be  resorted  to  for  church  support. 

From  the  remarks  of  the  Abbe  just  quoted,  it  will 
appear  that  all  funerals  in  Hayti,  although  a  Repub 
lic,  are  not  upon  an  entire  equality  ;  rather  Republi 
can  aristocracy  is  practised  in  death.  Hence,  here 
there  are  three  gradations  of  honor ;  in  the  superior 
class,  there  is  much  more  ceremony  than  in  the  infe 
rior — more  prayers,  more  chanting,  more  everything 
— all  of  which,  in  such  a  case,  commands  more 
money.  A  golden  cross  is  borne  before  the  corpse 
which  represents  wealth ;  while  the  honors  of  the 
church  for  a  poor  man  are  poor  indeed.  There  is,  it 
must  be  admitted,  something  exceedingly  revolting  in 
the  idea  that  a  poor  man's  soul  should  command  much 
less  attention  from  the  Church  of  Christ  than  that  of  a 
rich  man.  It  is  indeed  true  that  riches  and  poverty 
will  in  all  cases  have  their  effect  upon  society  ;  but 
when  this  becomes  avowedly  a  part  of  a  religious 
system,  so  that  even  the  ministers  of  Christ  refuse  to 
act  without  it,  then  it  is  done  in  the  name  of  God, 
who  is  no  respecter  of  persons,  and  seems  to  be  a 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES>  197' 

violation  of  one  of  the  first  principles  of  Christi 
anity. 

It  is  to  be  lamented  that  the  punctual  and  exact 
performance  of  mere  ceremonies  in  religion  has  too 
much  sufficed,  while  the  regeneration  of  the  heart  by 
the  power  of  God — that  grand  aim  of  true  religion, 
and  only  real  corrective  for  the  vices  of  our  nature — • 
has  been  wholly  unthought  of,  or  looked  upon  as  a 
mere  sectarian  idea. 

"Will  it  be  for  a  moment  pretended,  that  if  real 
Christianity,  in  all  its  power  and  simplicity,  had  been 
really  brought  to  bear  upon  the  Haytian  people,  they 
would,  as  a  mass,  have  been  what  they  now  are  ? 
Christianity,  as  revealed  and  taught  by  Christ  him 
self,  and  fairly  brought  to  bear  upon  the  nation, 
would  doubtless  have  elevated  it,  changed  its  cha 
racter,  and  set  it  on  the  track  of  truth  and  pros 
perity. 

A  national  or  native  clergy  would  unquestionably 
be  very  much  in  the  interests  of  liayti,  by  saving 
much  of  its  wealth  from  exportation,  which  on  the 
part  of  a  foreign  priesthood,  would  only  be  natural. 
"Whether,  however,  Roman  celibacy  would  ever  be  a 
prudent  system  for  the  Haytian  youth,  is  more  than 
doubtful. 

In  fact,  the  religious  question  in  Hayti,  in  the  form 
of  a  State  religion,  must,  in  the  nature  of  things,  be 
complicated ;  for  it  must  be  admitted  that  the  atheis 
tic  element  of  France  has  not  been  without  its  effect 
upon  the  educated  classes  of  the  Haytian  communi 
ty  ;  and  this  fact,  perhaps,  constitutes  the  only  expla 
nation  to  be  given  for  that  indifference  to  moral  cul 
ture,  by  means  of  a  really  Christian  education,  or  to 


.193  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

religion  in  its  real  and  positive  sense,  in  Hayti.  Cer 
tain  it  is,  that  the  reigning  spirit  and  element,  in  a 
moral  point  of  view,  which  laid  the  foundation  of  the 
Haytian  Republic,  was  vastly  different  from  that 
which  directed  the  foundation  of  the  great  Republic 
of  the  United  States  of  North  America.  In  the  lat 
ter  case,  the  people  themselves  organized  their  own 
churches,  from  a  deep  and  genuine  sense  of  their  need 
of  them  ;  but  in  the  former,  there  was  no  such  deep 
sense  of  need,  as  to  religion,  except  as  a  political  en 
gine,  to  rule  man  in  deep  ignorance.  Nor  indeed  is 
it  to  be  expected  that  it  should  have  been  otherwise ; 
for  the  masses  were  sunk  in  ignorance,  while  the  in 
telligent  part  of  the  nation  was  tainted,  not  to  say 
swayed,  by  infidelity ;  hence,  no  such  element  was 
present  as  was  necessary  to  originate  a  sense  of  the 
indispensable  necessity  of  an  honest,  sincere,  and 
evangelical  native  clergy.  Yet  the  advantages  arising 
from  independence  in  this  department  of  the  national 
interests,  is  as  striking  and  important  as  in  any  other, 
as  will  be  seen  in  the  fact  that  Playti's  only  failure  is 
in  her  moral  element,  which  is  confessedly  too  weak 
to  stem  the  torrent  of  moral  corruption  which  has 
ever  threatened  her. 

A  national  university,  possessing  an  architectural 
style  worthy  of  the  grandeur  of  its  purpose,  and  also 
well  qualified  and  suitable  men  of  every  nation  to 
support  its  literary  and  scientific  dignity,  by  a  fair 
development  of  every  branch  of  human  knowledge, 
would  have  been  such  a  powerful  leaven  in  the  Re 
public,  as  would  have  been  felt  throughout  every 
ramification  of  society.  The  power  and  worth  of 
such  an  institution,  would  have  been  beyond  all  hu- 


FROM  HISTORICAL  NOTES.  190 

man  calculation,  especially  with,  sound  religious  prin 
ciple,  such  as  Divine  inspiration  has  revealed  to  us 
as  its  soul ;  for  history  has  now  long  demonstrated  to 
mankind,  that  whatever  may  be  the  intellectual  capa 
city  of  either  an  individual  or  a  people,  sound  moral 
principle  must  not  be  absent ;  and  if  it  is,  it  will  be 
at  the  peril  of  the  nation,  whatever  be  its  amount  of 
intelligence. 

An  attempt  towards  the  formation  of  a  national 
clergy,  was  indeed  made  under  President  Boyer ; 
but  the  effort  was  so  feeble,  and  on  so  poor  a  scale, 
'  as  to  be  unworthy  of  notice  ;  hence,  like  the  attempt 
at  a  School  for  Navigation,  it  was  soon  forgotten. 

But  the  School  for  Medicine  and  Surgery  was  more 
happy.  This  institution,  although  on  a  limited  scale, 
was  nevertheless  seriously  undertaken,  and  really 
encouraged,  as  will  appear  from  the  following  extract, 
which  may  be  found  in  a  work  on  Hayti  by  an  Eng 
lish  Consul  once  residing  in  the  country.  Speaking 
of  Port  au  Prince,  he  observes  : 

"  There  is  an  hospital.  The  President  confers  Degrees  in 
Medicine,  of  which  the  Professor  is  a  Frenchman. 

"  The  building  which  serves  the  Institution,  is  well  situated, 
although  low  and  mean.  A  botanical  garden  was  attempted, 
and  many  useful  plants  are  there,  with  also  a  few  models  in 
surgery.  The  grounds,  although  not  extensive,  are  well  water 
ed  ;  and  the  establishment  might  be  easily  placed  on  such  a 
footing,  as  to  be  an  honor  to  the  country,  as  well  as  highly  use 
ful.  In  fact,  this  important  establishment  has,  from  the  begin 
ning,  been  both  interesting  and  useful.  The  only  thing  to  be 
regretted  concerning  it  is,  that  it  has  not  been  carried  out  with 
greater  spirit,  and  that  its  whole  plan  has  not  been  on  such  an 
elevation,  as  its  importance  both  merited  and  demanded.  This, 
however,  appears  to  be  one  of  the  inherent  defects  of  Ilayti. 


200  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

Vast  suras  ill  applied  in  arms,  impoverishes  the  resources  for 
all  else ;  hence,  whatever  is  done,  must  be  stinted,  or  merely 
provisional,  until  something  better  can  be  realized.  The  result, 
therefore,  is  that  the  national  mind  becomes  stinted  and  con 
tracted—the  habit  being  established  of  doing  nothing  fully, 
completely,  and  boldly.  It  is,  however,  only  fair  to  admit  that 
there  are  at  present  signs  of  improvement  in  this  respect." 

"We  now  come  to  the  grand  event  of  1842,  which 
on  the  7th  of  May  of  that  year,  overwhelmed  by 
earthquake  the  city  of  Cape  Hay tien,  as  well  as 
several  other  places  on  the  Island.  The  Cape,  it  is 
true,  suffered  most,  being  a  comparatively  large  and . 
populous  city,  and  particularly  from  the  fact  that  the 
houses  were  nearly  all  of  stone  or  brick. 

The  devastation  of  this  dreadful  visitation  extend 
ed  more  or  less  throughout  the  entire  island.  Port 
de  Paix,  an  important  and  ancient  town,  situated 
between  Cape  Haytien  and  Mole  St.  Nicholas,  in  the 
north-west  part  of  Hayti,  was  not  only  severely 
shattered  by  the  shock,  but  was  also  overwhelmed 
by  the  sea,  which  unnaturally  rushed  from  its  limits, 
deluged  the  yet  smoking  ruins,  and  instantly  engulfed 
many,  not  only  of  the  wounded  and  the  dying,  but 
also  many  in  full  strength. 

The  scene  at  this  place  appears  to  have  been  fear 
ful.  Boats  and  small  vessels  were  borne  up  the  streets 
of  the  town,  some  of  which  were  left  stranded.  The 
victims  were  many,  considering  the  smallness  of  the 
town — the  population  of  which,  at  that  time,  was 
probably  not  more  than  3,000. 

At  St.  Jago,  in  the  Spanish  part,  towards  the  north 
east,  the  shock  was  exceedingly  powerful.  This  old 
city,  situated  between  Puerto  Plata  and  the  Spanish 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  201 

capital,  Santo  Domingo,  was  very  strongly  built. 
The  walls  of  its  church  were  more  like  fortifications 
than  otherwise  ;  and  although  the  houses  were 
mostly  low,  having  nothing  more  than  the  ground 
floor,  yet  they  were  all — including  even  their  strongly 
built  church — utterly  prostrated,  and  many  of  this 
small  population  were  killed. 

From  Puerto  Plata  the  Eev.  W.  Towler,  Wesley  an 
Missionary,  thus  writes  to  his  Committee  in  London 
on  this  subject : 

"You  will  most  likely  have  learned,  by  a  more  direct  con 
veyance  than  I  can  avail  myself,  of  the  awful  visitation  which 
this  Island  has  just  experienced. 

"  On  Saturday,  May  the  7th,  about  five  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon,  we  had  three  violent  shocks  of  an  earthquake,  the  two 
Lost  of  which  were  the  most  powerful ;  the  surrounding 
mountains  and  trees,  and  the  houses  of  this  city,  reeled  to  and 
fro  like  a  drunken  man  ! 

"  '  The  earth  trembled  at  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  at  the 
presence  of  the  God  of  Jacob !' 

"  Even  while  thinking  and  writing  about  it  I  feel  dizzy. 
The  Mission-house  rolled  so  much  as  to  throw  over  the  chairs 
and  water  jars  ;  the  books  and  bottles  of  medicine  in  my  study 
were  cast  down  from  the  shelves  to  the  floor,  and  most  of  the 
houses  in  the  city  were  affected  in  some  manner.  A  range  of 
stone  and  brick  buildings,  consisting  of  dwelling  houses  and 
stores,  were,  in  a  moment,  laid  in  ruins ;  but  the  greater  part 
of  the  houses,  and  all  our  lives  have  been  mercifully  spared. 
Glory  be  to  God  for  his  great  goodness  towards  us. 

"  It  has  not  been  thus  with  some  of  our  neighboring  cities. 
St.  Jago,  sixty  miles  in  the  interior,  is  in  ruins ;  many  were 
killed  at  the  time,  and  many  are  now  suffering  from  want  of 
the  necessaries  of  life. 

"  Cape  Haytien,  built  of  stone,  was  overtaken  with  sudden 
destruction ;  whilst  all  were  occupied  with  their  usual  business 
their  houses  shook  and  fell,  burying  many  of  their  inhabitants 


202  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

in  the  ruins,  maiming  some,  and,  in  a  moment,  sending  others 
into  eternity.  In  a  wonderful  manner,  (for  such  it  must  have 
been)  our  Brother  Bird  and  his  family  have  been  saved.  I 
have  not  had  any  letter  from  him,  but  I  have  received  a  verbal 
message  from  a  friend. 

"  '  God  is  our  refuge  and  strength,  a  very  present  help  in 
trouble.' 

u  We  have  heard  that  some  of  the  smaller  towns  are  sunk 
and  overwhelmed  with  water. 

"  How  terrible  is  He  in  his  doings  towards  the  children  of 
men!" 

The  Eev.  M.  B.  Bird,  another  Wesleyan  Mission 
ary,  with  his  whole  family,  was  in  the  midst  of  the 
falling  Cape,  at  the  moment  of  this  dreadful  visita 
tion  ;  but,  escaping,  he  also  writes  to  his  Committee 
in  London  on  this  extraordinary  occasion. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  description 
given  by  the  last  named  Missionary,  of  this  dreadful 
scene,  of  which  himself  and  family  formed  a  part  in 
that  fearful  moment : 

"  At  the  moment  of  this  awful  catastrophe,  I  was  sitting 
reading  in  the  balcony  of  our  house,  which  projected  into  the 
street ;  Mrs.  Bird  was  in  a  belvedere,  two  stories  from  the 
ground  floor,  with  two  of  our  children,  the  youngest  and  the 
eldest;  the  former  being  only  nineteen  days  old,  the  latter 
nearly  three  years  of  age.  A  young  person  who  was  living 
with  us  was,  at  the  moment  of  the  shock,  in  the  act  of  walking 
from  one  part  of  the  house  to  another,  while  our  second  little 
son,  just  able  to  walk,  was  under  the  care  of  a  servant  in  the 
kitchen,  on  the  ground  floor.  Mrs.  B.,  who  had  not  left  the 
house  since  her  confinement,  had,  with  the  two  children,  with 
drawn  to  the  belvedere  for  the  enjoyment  of  the  cool  breeze, 
which  was  generally  to  be  found  there,  and  which  she,  in  her 
then  state  of  weakness,  so  much  needed. 

"  The  instant  I  felt  the  shock,  I  started  from  my  chair,  and 
soon  became  confounded,  not  knowing  whether  to  run  back- 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  203 

or  forward.  A  glance  through  the  house  showed  every 
thing  to  he  in  full  swing ;  and,  as  I  held  the  balustrade  of  the 
balcony,  at  the  same  time  leaning  over  and  looking  right  and 
left,  I,  before  falling,  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  whole  street,  as 
the  clouds  of  dust  suddenly  burst  forth  from  the  breaking  walls. 
In  this  moment  of  inconceivable  agitation,  the  entire  wall  from 
which  the  balcony  on  which  I  was  standing  was  projected,  fell, 
and  I  was  precipitated  with  it  into  the  general  ruins ;  the 
height  from  which  I  was  thrown  might  have  been  some  twelve 
feet,  but  I  scarcely  felt  the  fall,  nor  could  I  ever  call  to  mind  how  I 
fell  out  of  the  balcony,  or  even  remember  the  sensations  of  fall 
ing.  For  some  seconds  after  the  fall  I  was  perfectly  uncon 
scious,  until  at  last  I  was  astonished  to  find  myself  in  existence, 
and  recognized  that  I  was  sitting  upon  the  ruins,  with  my  head 
leaning  upon  my  hand,  almost  suffocated  with  the  dust  which 
arose  from  this  general  and  fearful  crash.  In  this  position  I  re 
mained  a  few  moments,  during  which  time  the  earth  continued 
to  tremble.  I  had  no  other  idea  than  that  a  beam,  or  some 
falling  wall,  would  send  me  into  eternity  ;  and,  as  I  waited  in 
breathless  suspense  the  final  moment,  I  commended  my  spirit 
to  God  my  Saviour ;  but  his  great  mercy  suffered  me  to  live. 
When  the  dense  cloud  of  dust  had  passed  over,  I  rose,  beheld 
nothing  but  one  vast  scene  of  ruin  and  desolation,  which  ex 
tended  to  the  utmost  limits  of  the  now  fallen  Cape,  with  here 
and  there  one  emerging  from  the  ruins,  which  I  could  compare 
to  nothing  but  a  resurrection  from  the  dead,  especially  as  all 
had  a  ghastly  appearance,  being  covered  with  the  white  dust 
which  had  started  from  the  falling  walls. 

"  Finding  myself  really  living  and  safe,  which,  for  a  moment,  I 
could  scarcely  believe,  an  intense  anxiety  seized  me  for  my  wife 
and  children,  whom  I  remembered  I  had  left  in  the  belvedere 
of  the  house,  previous  to  the  event.  I  therefore  rushed  to  the 
place,  in  doubt  whether  they  were  still  living ;  on  my  way,  I 
heard  the  voice  of  our  servant  from  the  kitchen,  crying  out, 
4  Here  we  are,  safe  and  well!'  She  was  standing  in  the  door 
way  of  the  kitchen,  with  our  second  son  in  her  arms,  both 
being  unharmed  1  I  kissed  the  dear  little  fellow,  and  went  on. 

"  My  ascent  to  my  dear  wife  and  the  two  children  was  partly 


204:  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

over  the  ruins  of  the  house ;  the  two  stair-cases  which  led  to 
the  belvedere,  one  of  which  was  built  of  brick  and  the  other  of 
wood,  had  both  been  dreadfully  shattered,  and  were  quite  un 
safe  ;  but  my  intense  anxiety  overcame  all  sense  or  thought  of 
danger,  and  I  soon  reached  the  memorable  spot ;  there  I  found 
Mrs.  B.  and  the  two  children  sitting  on  the  floor,  having  been 
violently  thrown  there  by  the  shock  ;  my  joy  at  finding  them 
safe  was  inexpressible.  My  next  anxiety  was  for  the  young 
person  living  with  us,  but  of  whose  position  I  knew  nothing  at 
the  moment  when  the  house  fell ;  not  seeing  her,  I  concluded 
she  must  be  dead;  but  we  afterwards  found  her  safe,  she 
having  leaped  from  a  window  at  the  time  of  the  shock,  and, 
alighting  on  her  feet,  was  saved.  Thus,  by  divine  mercy,  our 
whole  household  had  been  sheltered  from  one  of  the  most  pain 
ful  visitations  of  God,  perhaps,  on  record. 

*'  To  give  you  anything  like  an  adequate  idea  or  description 
of  this  awful  calamity,  would  be  utterly  impossible  ;  it  is  one 
of  those  events  which  overwhelms  and  baffles  all  imagination. 

"Picture  to  yourselves,  dear  sirs,  the  suddenness  of  this  visi 
tation,  literally  'as  a  thief  in  the  night;'  the  groans  of  the 
dying,  and  the  cries  of  those  imploring  help  from  under  the  ruins, 
without  even  the  possibility  of  being  rescued  ;  the  continuance 
of  the  shocks  ;  the  rush  of  the  sea  towards  the  devoted  city  ; 
in  fact,  think  of  one  of  the  finest  and  most  strongly  built  cities 
in  the  West  Indies,  with  a  population  of  about  nine  thousand, 
at  least,  cast  down  in  a  moment  by  Omnipotence,  and  two- 
thirds  of  its  population  buried,  in  one  instant,  in  one  common 
grave,  and  you  will  have  some  faint  idea  of  a  scene  which  it 
wrings  my  heart  to  think  of. 

"  In  the  night  which  succeeded  the  earthquake,  the  fallen 
timbers  among  the  ruins  took  fire,  caused,  no  doubt,  by  the 
fires  of  the  different  kitchens,  which  had  been  lighted  for  the 
last  repast  of  the  day,  and  which  must  have  been  an  awful 
addition  to  the  agonies  of  those  whose  death  was  not  instan- 


This  Missionary  also   describes  how  himself  and 
wife,  with  one  servant  and  three  children,  had  to 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  205 

climb  over  the  ruins  of  this  fallen  city  to  reach  the 
sea-shore  : 

u  Our  descent  from  the  belvedere  was  exceedingly  dangerous 
and  difficult,  both  the  brick  and  wooden  stair- cases  being  every 
where  fractured,  so  that  every  effort  and  movement  were 
entirely  unsafe ;  we,  however,  at  last  reached  the  ground  with 
out  accident,  and  at  once,  fearing  the  standing,  though  shat 
tered  walls,  might  come  down  upon  us,  proceeded  to  climb 
those  dreadful  ruins. 

u  Mrs.  B.,  myself,  and  servant,  carried  each  a  little  one.  The 
mother,  in  this  case,  carried  her  infant  son  of  only  nineteen 
days'  old ;  and,  after  crossing  this  frightful  scene,  by  climbing 
and  crawling  over  the  dying  and  the  dead,  amid  expiring 
groans,  which  we  could  now  and  then  hear,  we  at  last  reached 
the  sea  side,  and  took  refuge  on  board  ship,  where,  for  a  few 
day?,  with  scores  of  others,  we  literally  suffered  want." 

Bloody  struggles  for  wealth,  which  now  lay  flung 
in  all  directions,  soon  ensued,  as  may  be  seen  by  the 
following  extract  from  a  journal,  quite  in  favor  of 
the  Government  of  that  day  : 

"  Even  man  himself  did  not  respect  these  misfortunes.  Be 
ings  without  pity  came  in  from  the  country — we  are  informed — 
and  pillaged  what  they  could  snatch  from  the  ruins,  instead  of 
rather  helping  their  fellow-citizens  in  their  distressing  mis 
fortunes.  Strange  effects  of  cupidity  and  ignorance." 

The  Church  at  Cape  Haytien  was  a  noble  struc 
ture,  and,  but  a  few  months  previous  to  the  earth 
quake,  had  been  beautifully  restored  from  its  former 
dilapidated  condition,  by  General  Bottex,  a  man  of 
great  discipline  and  order,  then  Commanding  that 
city ;  it,  however,  fell  in  this  dreadful  moment,  and 
many  who  were  inside  when  it  yielded  to  the  shock, 
although  not  an  hour  of  public  worship,  met  with 
instant  death. 


206  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

It  was  sad,  and  deeply  humiliating  to  the  foreign 
resident  in  the  Haytian  Eepublic  at  this  time,  that 
little  or  no  sympathy  was  shown  to  Hayti,  in  her 
great  affliction,  by  any  of  the  neighboring  Islands ; 
nor  was  this  unfelt  by  the  Haytians  themselves, 
although  they  were  nobly  silent!  In  fact,  it  is 
much  to  the  honor  of  Hayti  that  she  has  always 
been  able  to  look  after  herself ;  this,  too,  is  one  of 
the  secrets  of  her  just  pride — which  it  is  true  may 
have  been  pushed  to  an  extreme — never  has  she 
sought  help  from  any  one,  notwithstanding  her  fear 
ful  debt  to  France  of  60,000,000  of  francs,  which  is 
now  nearly  paid !  In  fact,  it  is  worthy  of  notice 
that  latterly  Hayti  has  aided  her  neighbors  in  their 
great  calamities.* 

Immediately  after  the  earthquake,  a  Court  of  In 
quiry  was  instituted  by  the  Boyer  Government  into 
the  conduct  of  some  of  the  authorities  in  certain 
parts  of  the  Island,  with  regard  to  their  seeming  tol 
eration  of  the  disgraceful  and  inhuman  pillaging 
which  immediately  followed  the  dreadful  catastrophe, 
but  the  all-absorbing  Revolution  of  the  following 
year  broke  up  this  Court. 

The  earthquake  confounded  many  plans  and  enter 
prises  ;  many  were  at  a  loss  to  know  what  course  to 
pursue ;  some,  too,  for  several  days  after  the  event, 

*  The  great  principle  of  overcoming  evil  with  good,  at  least  in 
this  case,  falls  to  the  honor  of  Hayti  ;  hence,  on  the  4th  of  No 
vember,  1866,  collections  were  made  in  two  Protestant  Churches 
of  Port-au-Prince,  in  behalf  of  the  distressed  population  of  Turk's 
Island,  which  had  been  visited  by  a  hurricane  of  such  violence 
as  had  swept  away  nearly  everything  from  the  Island,  leaving 
nearly  all  the  buildings  a  total  wreck,  many  with  their  families 
being  thus  exposed  and  left  destitute  of  both  food  and  shelter. 


FKOM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  207 

were  in  want  of  the  necessaries  of  life  ;  this  was  the 
case  of  the  Wesleyan  Mission  family,  which  had  lost 
nearly  all  but  life  ;  their  sorrows,  however,  were  re 
lieved  in  a  few  weeks,  by  their  arrival  at  Port-au- 
Prince,  where  they  were  received  with  the  warmest 
affection  by  the  Rev.  J.  T.  Hartwell,  who  was  at 
this  time  the  residing  "Wesleyan  Missionary  at  the 
capital.  Arriving  here,  the  Mission  family  from  the 
Cape  were  soon  surrounded  by  many  kind  and 
sympathizing  friends ;  but  the  seeds  of  disease  had 
been  deeply  lodged  in  them  all,  from  want  of  suitable 
food  and  clothing,  and  also  by  great  exposure  to  both 
the  sun  and  rain,  having  been  obliged  to  remain  for 
many  days  without  home  or  dwelling  after  the 
earthquake,  it  was  not  therefore,  surprising  that  the 
two  youngest  of  the  family,  after  having  been  saved 
from  all  the  horrors  of  this  dreadful  event,  should  have 
escaped  to  heaven  in  peace,  soon  after  their  arrival 
at  Port-au-Prince. 

Towards  the  latter  end  of  this  memorable  year 
a  highly  important  event,  of  a  purely  moral  and  re 
ligious  bearing,  took  place  in  the  capital  of  this  Re 
public,  which  was  the  opening  of- the  Wesleyan 
Church ;  the  foundation  stone  of  which  had  been 
laid  a  year  or  two  before,  by  the  Rev.  J.  T.  Hart- 
well. 

The  opening  and  dedication  of  this  neat  and  com 
modious  little  building,  the  walls  of  which  are  of  brick 
and  stone,  and  which  will  hold  nearly  four  hundred 
persons,  took  place  on  the  4th  of  December,  1842, 
which,  being  a  Sabbath  day,  was  entirely  devoted  to 
the  great  and  solemn  duties  of  this  deeply  interest 
ing  occasion.  Four  public  services  were  held  during 


208  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

the  day,  two  of  which  were  in  French  and  two  in 
English  ;  each  of  the  Ministers — Bird  and  Hartwell — 
taking  an  equal  share  in  the  work  in  both  languages. 
The  attendance  at  the  services  on  this  extraordinary 
occasion  was  altogether  interesting  and  encouraging, 
the  place  being  comfortably  filled  at  nearly  all  the 
services,  and  the  liberalitj-  of  the  people  altogether 
praiseworthy,  especially  when  it  is  remembered  that 
on  this  occasion  the  majority  of  the  largest  congre 
gations  were  Roman  Catholics. 

It  may  be  considered  that  from  this  time  Protest 
ant  Christianity  took  a  bolder  and  more  elevated 
stand,  and  acquired  a  more  commanding  influence 
upon  the  public  mind  of  Hayti. 

It  is  not  intended  to  say  anything  in  this  produc 
tion,  otherwise  than  incidentally,  of  the  Spanish  part 
of  this  splendid  Island.  The  following  sketch  of  a 
journey  by  land  from  Port-au-Prince  to  Porerto 
Plata,  extracted  from  the  journal  of  the  Rev.  M.  B. 
Bird,  may  perhaps  now  be  in  place,  especially  as  the 
French  and  Spanish  parts  separated  almost  immedi 
ately  after  the  performance  of  this  journey,  while  it 
may  enable  the  reader  to  form  some  faint  idea  of  the 
people  now  forming  the  Dominican  Republic  : 

"MONDAY,  January  9th,  1843. — Left  Port-au-Prince  at  4  A. 
M.,  accompanied  by  Rev.  J.  T.  Hartwell,  my  colleague,  and  a 
guide,  all  three  on  horse-back,  the  object  of  the  journey  being 
to  attend  an  annual  District  Meeting,  which  it  was  decided 
should  be  held  that  year  at  Pererto  Plata. 

"  Towards  noon  we  halted,  and  took  a  very  rural  repast  near 
by  a  clear  rivulet,  which  afforded  us  all  the  wine  we  needed  ; 
towards  evening  we  reached  the  neighborhood  of  Arcahaie, 
about  forty  miles  from  the  capital,  where  we  were  entertained 


FKOM:  HISTORICAL  NOTES.  209 

for  the  night  by  some  kind  colored  Americans,  who  had,  by 
persevering  industry,  surrounded  themselves  by  many  comforts. 

"TUESDAY,  10th.— We  reached  St.  Mark's  in  the  evening, 
having  crossed  the  large  Artibonite  river  in  a  barque  constructed 
for  passengers  and  horses  ;  our  route  had  been  through  a  rather 
dreary  and  but  little  cultivated  country. 

"  The  town  of  St.  Mark  is  quite  of  historical  renown.  In 
the  time  of  French  rule  and  power,  it  was  important  and  pros 
perous  ;  and,  during  the  great  Revolution,  it  was  the  scene  of 
the  massacre  of  several  hundred  French  Colonists  by  Dessa- 
lines.  Here  we  left  copies  of  the  Scriptures,  etc. 

"  WEDNESDAY,  llth. — We  arrived  at  Gonaives,  where  we 
were  informed  a  great  fire  had  taken  place  at  Port-au-Prince  ; 
but  our  informant  having  received  a  rough  map  of  the  fire,  we 
were  assured  that  our  Mission  premises  were  quite  safe,  and  re 
solved,  therefore,  to  continue  our  course. 

"THURSDAY,  12th. — This  morning  we  walked  through  the 
town,  and  found  that  the  great  earthquake  of  the  previous  year 
had  left  severe  marks  of  destruction  in  many  places. 

"  The  town  of  Gonaives  is  remarkable  as  the  place  where 
Dessalines  declared  the  Independence  of  Ilayti !  It  is  now  a 
place  of  great  commercial  importance,  with  a  population  of  some- 
six  thousand.  We  held  a  public  service  here  this  evening,  and 
had  a  small  company  of  hearers. 

"  FRIDAY,  13th. — Soon  after  mid-day  we  continued  our 
course  towards  Cape  Ilaytien. 

"  The  country  between  Gonaives  and  the  Cape  is  exceedingly 
picturesque,  being  mountainous,  yet  open  and  fertile.  The 
place  called  '  Les  Escalliers,'  or  Steps,  is  of  great  celebrity  ;  it 
is  a  steep  pass  between  two  mountains ;  the  road  is  paved  with 
pebbles,  and  is,  therefore,  dangerous  for  cattle ;  it  is  perfectly 
zig-zag,  so  that  at  each  turn  in  ascending,  the  turn  left  is  seen 
below,  and  the  one  to  be  reached  is  seen  still  above ;  which, 
perhaps,  accounts  for  the  name  given  to  this  rather  romantic 
pass.  In  this  neighborhood  there  is  considerable  cultivation, 
and  the  general  scenery  is  rich  and  grand,  the  great  mountains 
of  the  neighborhood  being  luxuriantly  verdant. 

"  SATURDAY,  14th. — At  two  A.  M.,  we  were  again  on  horse- 


210  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

back,  and  reached  the  neighborhood  of  the  Cape  towards  night, 
through  a  great  deal  of  mud  and  rain. 

"  SUNDAY,  15th. — This  morning  we  visited  the  Cape,  our 
lodgings  being  on  a  small  estate  about  four  miles  outside  the 
town.*  On  reaching  the  city,  it  looked  more  like  an  as 
semblage  of  ruined  tombs  than  otherwise,  and  I  found  it  ex 
ceedingly  difficult  to  recognize  the  different  spots  which  had 
once  been  so  familiar  to  me.  The  general  scene  brought  on  old 
sensations,  and  it  was  deeply  affecting  to  me  to  remember  that 
the  hand  of  God  had  so  signally  saved  both  me  and  mine  in  the 
overthrow  of  that  city.  On  re-examining  the  touching  past  in 
this  case,  as  I  again  stood  on  these  ruins,  I  was  more  than  ever 
amazed  and  struck  with  the  conviction  of  a  minute  and  par 
ticular  Providence.  The  public  market  was,  at  the  time  of  this 
visit,  held  on  the  Sabbath  day ;  hence,  there  was  no  oppor 
tunity  for  any  religious  meeting,  and  we  returned,  in  every 
sense  sad,  in  the  evening,  to  our  distant  lodgings,  where  we  held 
a  meeting  for  the  few  that  were  about  the  place. 

"MONDAY,  16th. — This  morning  we  again  rode  into  the 
Cape  ;  and,  seemingly  by  accident,  we  met  with  two  Spaniard?, 
whom  we  engaged  to  travel  with  us  as  guides  on  the  rest  of  the 
journey  through  the  Spanish  part. 

"  TUESDAY,  17th. — About  five  A.  M.,  we  were  on  our  horses, 
and  on  our  way  for  the  Spanish  country,  with  our  two  Spanish 
guides,  who  spoke  a  little  French.  After  traveling  through  a 
level  region  of  country,  not  much  cultivated,  we  arrived,  to 
wards  evening,  at  Terriere  Rouge,  where  we  halted,  and  were 
very  hospitably  received  by  a  military  man,  who  soon  informed 
us  tli at  his  wife  had  gone  on  a  pilgrimage  to  Higuey,  a  place 
of  great  Roman  Catholic  fame,  at  the  Eastern  extremity  of 
the  Island ;  where,  it  is  said,  there  is  an  image  of  the  Virgin 
possessing  extraordinary  virtue.  The  man  evidently  saw  the 
absurdity  of  the  thing ;  but,  like  many  others,  he  loved  dark 
ness  rather  than  light.  We  left  a  French  Testament  with 
him,  which  he  gladly  accepted. 

*  The  town  being  still  in  ruins,  it  was  difficult  to  find  accom 
modation  among  its  still  suffering  inhabitants  ;  these  travelers, 
therefore,  remained  outside  at  a  friend's  house. 


FROM   HISTORICAL  NOTES.  211 

"  WEDNESDAY,  18th. — Left  Terriere  Rouge  about  four  A.  M., 
and,  on  our  way,  called  at  Fort  Dauphin,  which  had  evidently 
been  once  a  neat  place,  but,  at  the  time  of  our  visit,  was  little 
better  ^than  a  heap  of  ruins,  wearing  the  melancholy  aspect 
which  seems  to  attach  to  every  place  where  the  earthquake 
was  violent.  Continuing  our  course  we  soon  reached  Ouana- 
minthe,  where  again  the  saddening  traces  of  last  year's  earth 
quake  were  very  visible.  From  thence  we  shortly  reached 
Laxavon,  a  neat  little  Spanish  town.  The  Church  of  this  place, 
which  had  been  built  of  stone,  was  entirely  in  ruins,  from  the 
dreadful  visitation  of  the  previous  year. 

"  The  whole  neighborhood  here  has  an  open,  beautiful,  and 
healthy  appearance,  not  unlike,  although  far  richer  than  Salis 
bury  Plain  in  England ;  but,  we  continued  our  route  a  little 
farther  until  we  came  to  a  Spanish  cottage,  where  we  were 
kindly  received  according  to  the  Spanish  rural  habit ;  our 
hammocks  were  at  once  swung  by  our  kind  host,  and  we  were 
soon  at  ease  in  them.  The  room  assigned  to  our  use  for  the 
night  was  shared  with  us  by  three  or  four  strong  fighting 
cocks — the  Haytian  Spaniards  delighting  in  cock-fighting— an 
amusement  which  seems  to  constitute  the  sum  total  of  Spanish 
earthly  bliss  !  The  hearty  crowing  of  these  feathered  warriors, 
and  the  boisterous  clapping  of  their  wings  during  the  night 
would,  no  doubt,  have  been  most  deplorable  for  light  sleepers, 
but  we  were  heavy  with  fatigue,  and  our  sleep  was  conse 
quently  such  that  they  might  crow  altogether,  and  storm  to  any 
amount  in  the  clapping  of  their  wings,  etc.,  in  this  case,  with 
entire  impunity ! 

"  THURSDAY,  19th. — In  the  morning,  about  four,  we  were  off, 
and  passed  through  a  beautiful  country,  more  like  an  ancient 
English  Park  than  otherwise.  At  mid-day  we  halted  at 
another  Spanish  cottage,  and  refreshed  both  ourselves  and  our 
horses,  which  was  very  greatly  needed.  After  two  or  three 
hours'  rest  we  continued  our  way  until  evening,  traveling 
slowly,  frequently  not  more  than  three  miles  an  hour,  especially 
when  the  roads  were  difficult ;  at  times,  however,  our  move 
ments  would  be  quicker.  Our  journey,  this  day,  ended  on  the 
banks  of  the  Mao,  where  we  slept  in  one  of  the  worst  hovels  I 


212 

ever  saw  occupied  by  human  beings ;  the  place  was  without 
doors  or  windows,  and  on  one  side  of  this  wretched  hovel  there 
was  little  standing  besides  the  posts,  which  supported  a  miser 
able  and  broken  roof;  as  to  a  seat,  that  was  out  of  the  ques 
tion.  We  found  the  miserable  inmates  squatted  round  a  fire, 
either  on  the  ground  or  on  blocks  of  wood,  with  their  chins  be 
tween  their  hands,  and  their  elbows  on  their  knees  ;  they,  how 
ever,  made  us  welcome  to  the  place,  and  did  what  they  could 
for  us ;  worn  down  by  fatigue,  we  took  a  hasty  meal,  and  were 
soon  cradled  in  our  hammocks.  The  dew  and  air,  to  which  we 
were  thoroughly  exposed,  were  cold,  but  our  sleep,  though  short, 
was  sweet.* 

FRIDAY,  20th. — We  forded  the  Mayo  at  daylight,  and  soon 
reached  the  river  Yague,  which  is  a  noble  stream,  and  with  a 
little  trouble  might  be  made  navigable  for  many  miles.  We 
crossed  this  fine  stream  in  a  canoe,  our  horses  swimming  by  the 
side. 

"  With  regard  to  the  country  through  which  we  were  now 
traveling  all  was  richness,  fertility  and  splendor.  Towards  the 
middle  of  the  afternoon  we  arrived  at  the  cottage  of  a  white 
Spanisli  family,  of  rather  Donish  bearing;  the  house  was 
scarcely  a  shelter  from  either  sun  or  rain;  but  the  airs  of 
the  inmates  were  very  significant,  not  to  say  imposing,  especi 
ally  on  the  part  of  the  young  ladies,  whose  lofty  style 
seemed  to  indicate  a  supposed,  or  real  descent  from  ancient 
nobility ;  but  who,  certainly  in  these  poor  modern  times,  had 
nothing  more  than  a  cow-hide  and  the  ground  to  serve  as 
couch.  We,  nevertheless,  gladly  availed  ourselves  of  the  kind 
hospitality  which  was,  with  right  good  feeling,  offered  to  us  for 
the  night.  Before  retiring  to  rest  something  was  cooked  for 
us,  but  everything  was  so  entirely  uninviting  as  to  cleanliness, 
that,  though  we  were  literally  in  want,  yet  we  ate  with  little 
or  no  enjoyment ;  fatigue,  however,  soon  sent  us  to  our  ham 
mocks,  where  we  very  gladly  underwent  the  needed  prepara 
tion  of  rest  for  the  next  day,  which  we  knew  would  be  one  of 
hard  work. 

*  The  scene  here  represented  consisted  of  men  who  were  much 
more  attached  to  the  Dons  of  Spain  than  to  Africa. 


FROM   HISTORICAL  NOTES.  213 

"  SATURDAY,  21st. — At  day -light  we  were  again  on  the  road, 
and  resolved  to  reach  Puerto  Plata  that  evening,  if  possible. 
Our  path,  for  some  time,  was  through  a  thick  wood,  continuing 
for  a  good  distance  along  the  side  of  a  steep  hill,  where,  now 
and  then,  there  would  be  scarcely  space  enough,  as  a  road,  for 
our  horses'  hoofs.  About  ten  A.  M.  we  halted  and  breakfasted  ; 
up  to  this  hour  this  morning  we  had  rain,  and  were  wet,  but 
after  our  repast  by  the  road-side,  we  went  on  until  mid-day, 
when  we  reached  the  romantic  village  of  Altimera ;  continuing 
our  journey,  we  had  to  encounter  and  struggle  with  such  mud 
as  rendered  our  traveling  perfectly  distressing ;  the  more  so,  as 
we  now  began  to  be  thoroughly  fatigued  ;  at  last,  however,  we 
reached  the  long- desired  city  of  Puerto  Plata,  and  were  kindly 
and  heartily  welcomed  by  our  Brethren  Eacott,  Towler  and 
Cardy,  who  had  all  been  anxiously  waiting  for  us.  Mrs.  Tow 
ler  was,  unhappily,  an  invalid.  Our  journey  from  Port-au- 
Prince  to  this  place  had  cost  us — including  rests — eleven  days' 
toil.  We  were,  indeed,  thoroughly  fatigued  ;  yet  we  had,  upon 
the  whole,  greatly  enjoyed  our  long  and  hard  labor  on  horse 
back,  and  a  little  rest  soon  brought  us  round  again  ,  while  the 
remembrance  of  the  country  and  people  with  which  we  had 
now  become  somewhat  acquainted,  reminded  us  that  Christianity 
alone  can  bless  mankind,  and  that  without  it  indolence  can  live 
amidst  the  unbounded  wealth  of  nature,  and  be  still  in  wretch 
edness  ;  while  the  glories  and  luxuriance  of  the  most  imposing 
scenery,  even  of  the  tropics,  fails  to  purify  the  heart,  or  of  itself 
even  to  elevate  the  mind  :  some  other  elements  and  power  must 
evidently  be  brought  to  bear  upon  the  human  race  to  raise  them 
to  their  right  level,  as  moral  and  immortal  beings. 

"  The  object  of  this  visit  being  purely  of  an  official  character, 
with  regard  to  the  annual  District  Meeting  usually  held  in  the 
Methodist  Connection,  it  will  not  be  necessary  here  to  enter  into 
its  details.  Several  public  services  were  held  during  our  stay, 
all  of  which  were  deeply  interesting,  and  well  attended  by  the 
American  immigrants.  Some  of  the  services  were  held  in  the 
French  language,  but  most  of  them  were  held  in  English,  none 
in  Spanish. 

"Puerto  Plata  is  situated  by  the  sea  side;  its  population 


214 


makes  it  quite  a  second-rate  town  in  the  Ilaytian  Republic.* 
At  the  time  of  our  visit  this  Spanish  city  had  quite  an  air  of  re 
spectability.  The  Wesleyan  Mission  was  situated  on  a  beautiful 
elevation,  commanding  a  good  view  of  both  the  town  and  the 
sea ;  but  the  Spaniards  have  in  no  case  submitted  to  the  in 
fluence  of  Protestantism,  as  to  this  city.  The  Mission  property 
consisted,  at  that  time,  of  a  good  little  Church,  holding  about 
a  hundred  and  fifty,  and  a  comfortable  Parsonage,  to  which  has 
since  been  added  a  School-house.t 

"  MONDAY,  30th.— Left  Puerto  Plata  this  morning  for  Port- 
au-Prince  ;  the  Brethren,  Cardy  and  Towler,  accompanying  us 
for  a  considerable  distance  outside.  We  readied  Altimera  a 
little  before  dark,  and  halted  for  the  night.  This  somewhat 
singular  village  stands  on  a  good  elevation  ;  the  climate  in  these 
mountains  is  exceedingly  agreeable ;  in  fact,  during  the  night 
we  found  it  to  be  quite  sufficiently  cold 

"TUESDAY,  31st. — Left  Altimera  about  day -light,  and  traveled 
through  an  interesting  country  until  about  mid-day,  when  we 
rested  at  a  Spaniard's  house  on  the  road.  In  the  afternoon, 
about  four,  we  arrived  at  the  ancient  town  of  Santiago.  This 
interior  city  is  beautifully  situated ;  fertility  and  grandeur  are 
round  about  it ;  in  fact,  the  whole  neighborhood  is  highly  pic 
turesque  and  healthy.  Before  sun-set  we  took  a  stroll  round 
the  place  and  saw,  by  its  ruins,  that  it  once  had  been  a  well- 
built  place.  The  houses  were  low,  with  thick  walls,  and  the 
Church,  which  was  a  low  building,  was  remarkable  for  solidity. 
But  everything,  at  the  time  of  our  visit,  presented  a  more  fear 
ful  spectacle  than  even  Cape  Haytien ;  for,  although  the  town 
was  small  and  the  buildings  low,  and  of  remarkably  strong 
mason-work,  the  general  ruin  seemed  here  to  be  more  decided 
and  complete ;  from  whence  it  seems  natural  to  infer  that  the 
shock  must  have  been  more  powerful  in  the  Eastern  part  of  the 
Island  than  towards  the  West.  After  contemplating  this  sad 

*  It  will  be  borne  in  mind  that  at  this  time  the  entire  Island  was 
under  one  flag,  which  was  that  of  the  Haytian  Republic,  of  which 
Boyer  was,  at  that  time,  President. 

f  At  the  present  time  Puerto  Plata  is  little  better] than  a  heap  of 
ruins,  as  the  result  of  the  late  war  with  the  European  Spaniards. 


FROM   HISTORICAL  NOTES.  215 

scene  we  returned  to  our  lodgings,  which  had  been  kindly  af 
forded  us  by  a  Haytian  Colonel,  then  commanding  the  place, 
and  whose  hospitality  was  very  hearty. 

"  WEDNESDAY,  February  1st. — After  an  early  breakfast,  we 
left  Santiago  and  directed  our  course  towards  the  Mao,  near  the 
banks  of  which  we  again  rested  for  the  night. 

"  THURSDAY,  2d. — About  three  A.  M.  we  commenced  the  labor 
of  the  day,  and  continued  our  traveling  until  between  eight  and 
nine,  when  we  paused  at  a  Spaniard's  house  and  breakfasted. 
Here  was  something  like  a  productive  garden,  but  the  dwelling 
or  hut  was  the  picture  of  wretchedness ;  the  man,  however, 
made  us  heartily  welcome  ;  and,  having  refreshed  ourselves,  we 
continued  our  course  ;  but,  our  guide  not  being  thoroughly  ac 
quainted  with  the  country,  we  missed  our  path,  and  took  one 
which  led  us  through  a  wood  where  we  saw  many  wild  pigs  and 
a  good  many  wild  horned  cattle.  Continuing  our  course,  we  at 
last  came  out  upon  a  fine  open  country  ;  the  richness  and  splen 
dor  of  the  scene  was  really  enchanting,  which  was  the  more 
interesting  to  us  from  the  fact  that  we  had  just  come  out  of  a 
thick  wood  ;  a  more  fairy-like  aspect  of  a  country  could  not  be 
imagined ;  all  was  nature,  pure,  rich,  and  beautiful ;  no  traces 
of  the  hand  of  man  were  anywhere  to  be  seen,  in  the  way  of 
cultivation,  buildings,  or  otherwise.  The  thought,  however, 
was  sad  that  we  should  have  toiled  so  long,  and  gone  so  far,  to 
no  purpose.  Having  entirely  missed  our  way,  however,  we 
alighted  in  this  splendid  wilderness  ;  there  was,  indeed,  nothing 
but  the  ground  for  us  as  a  resting  place,  but  with  this  charming 
view  before  us  we  took  our  rural  meal,  for  which  we  were  well 
prepared  ;  and,  notwithstanding  the  assurance  that  we  had  lost 
our  way,  we  enjoyed  the  moment.  Having  finished  onr  repast, 
we  now  returned,  and  slept  that  night  where  we  had  break 
fasted  in  the  morning. 

"  FRIDAY,  3d. — Our  horses  needing  rest,  we  did  not  leave  this 
place  till  mid-day ;  but,  before  leaving,  we  gave  our  hospitable 
host  a  Spanish  Testament,  for  which  he  appeared  to  be  very 
grateful.  With  this  man  we  had  conversed  much,  and  found 
him  quite  open  to  religious  instruction,  as  was  the  case  in  most 
places  which  we  had  visited.  Wherever  we  halted  for  the 


216  HATTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

night  we  introduced  prayer ;  but  if  the  idea  of  our  being  here 
tics  had  occurred  to  these  poor  people,  it  is  probable  that,  from 
Christians,  we  should,  in  their  estimation,  have  been  changed 
into  demons. 

"My  horse  having  been  bitten  previous  to  this  journey  by  a 
poisonous  insect,  had  shown  signs  of  weakness  for  a  day  or  two 
past,  but  as  we  were  now  riding  along  the  poor  animal  literally 
sunk  down  with  me,  and  could  not  rise  again.  At  this  moment 
we  were  on  a  road  leading  through  a  large  Savanna,  where  we 
were  compelled  to  leave  him.  It  was  well  for  us  that  we  were 
just  approaching  houses,  which  we  soon  reached;  and  were 
really  thankful  we  had  not  further  to  travel,  for  we  were  wet, 
fatigued,  and  benighted.  The  first  house  we  came  to  happened 
to  be  one  of  a  man  holding  office ;  he  made  us  welcome ;  we 
refreshed,  called  all  together  for  prayer,  swung  our  hammocks, 
and  were  soon  soundly  asleep. 

"  SATURDAY,  4th. — Early  this  morning  our  man  rode  back  for 
the  horse,  and  brought  him  up ;  we  were  soon  again  on  our 
way ;  but  before  we  arrived  at  the  place  which  we  had  in  view, 
as  the  end  of  this  day's  journey,  this  poor  animal  utterly  failed, 
and  there  was  now  no  alternative  but  to  leave  him  on  the  road. 
"We  were,  however,  again  fortunate  in  being  near  the  first 
Spanish  cottage  of  cock-fighting  notoriety,  in  which  we  had 
slept  in  our  outward  bound  course. 

"  SUNDAY,  5th. — Spent  the  Sabbath  day  at  this  Spanish  cot 
tage,  which,  notwithstanding  fighting-cocks,  dissipation,  etc., 
etc.,  we  endeavored  to  turn  to  good  account  by  reading  the 
Scriptures,  both  in  French  and  Spanish,  and  by  religious  con 
versation. 

"  MONDAY,  6th. — Having  made  arrangements  with  this  man 
to  get  my  horse  up,  which  we  had  left  two  or  three  miles 
behind  us,  on  the  savanna,  and  to  keep  him  for  me  until  I 
should  return,  which  I  told  him  I  might  do  in  some  three  or 
four  months'  time,*  we  left  at  daylight  for  the  town  of  Laxavon, 
which  was  not  far  on,  and  where  we  soon  arrived.  Our  pass- 

*  Some  three  or  four  months  after,  I  again  visited  this  neighbor 
hood,  and  found  my  horse  in  good  condition  ;  nor  would  this  kind 
man  accept  of  the  slightest  recompense. 


FROM   HISTORICAL  NOTES.  217 

port  served  us  as  an  introduction  to  the  commandant  of  the 
place,  by  whom  we  were  very  kindly  entertained. 

"  Here  I  was  necessitated  to  purchase  another  horse,  and  we 
continued  our  way  through  a  tolerably  well  populated  country, 
evidently  very  rich,  but  not  much  cultivated.  Towards  even 
ing  we  arrived  at  a  cottage,  where  fighting  children,  confusion 
and  misery  seemed  to  abound.  We  were,  however,  made  wel 
come,  and  the  people  did  the  best  they  could  for  us. 

u  TUESDAY,  7th. — About  daylight  we  were  en  route.  A  mili 
tary  post,  however,  on  the  road,  ordered  us  to  halt,  and  our  pass 
ports  were  examined.  This  was  a  special  military  guard,  in  con 
sequence  of  rumors  of  revolt  and  revolution  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  island.  The  commandant  of  Laxavon,  our  last  place,  had 
indeed  sent  a  man  on  with  us,  to  avoid  all  difficulty  at  this 
post ;  but  he  had  only  a  verbal  message,  and  was  therefore  not 
believed.  We  were  told  we  must  return  to  Laxavon  (some 
twenty-six  miles  behind).  This  we  refused  to  do,  knowing  that 
our  passports  were  correct,  and  doubting  whether  any  one  there 
could  read  them.  At  this  they  shouldered  arms  and  surrounded 
us.  This  brought  straw  hats  and  ragged  coats  a  little  nearer  to 
us ;  but  finding  that  we  were  resolved  not  to  move,  they  sent 
one  of  their  own  men  back  with  our  passports,  who  probably 
before  long  met  with  some  one  on  the  road  that  could  read,  and 
was  therefore  soon  back  again,  assuring  the  officer  of  the  guard 
that  all  was  right.  However  this  might  have  been,  our  papers 
were  returned,  and  we  were  rather  sheepishly  told  we  might 
go.  Putting  incompetent  men  in  office,  must  in  the  nature  of 
things  be  attended  with  many  inconveniences,  and  indeed 
evils. 

"  Towards  evening,  after  traveling  through  an  undulated  and 
very  woody  country,  where  the  rich  pitch-pine  very  much 
abounded,  we  arrived  at  a  Spanish  cottage,  where  misery  really 
seemed  to  preside,  but  where  we  nevertheless  were  made 
heartily  welcome,  and  our  fatigue  soon  sent  us  into  sweet 
forgetfulness. 

"  WEDNESDAY,  8th. — About  daylight  we  were  again  on  our 
saddles,  and  traveled  through  a  country  still  undulated,  and  full 
of  splendid  pitch-pine. 


218  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

"  Kather  late  in  the  evening  we  reached  Banica,  and  were 
very  kindly  received  by  the  commandant,  who  provided  lodg 
ing  for  us. 

"  THURSDAY,  9th. — "We  were  very  courteously  invited  to  dine 
with  the  commandant,  whom  we  found  to  be  intelligent,  gen 
tlemanly  and  agreeable.  In  religious  matters,  he  like  many 
others  in  the  country,  was  a  Protestant,  without  the  courage  to 
avow  it. 

"Here  we  were  informed  that  the  excitement  which  had 
taken  place  in  the  south,  was  entirely  over,  and  that  all  was 
now  quiet, 

"  In  the  afternoon  we  left  for  L'Ascahoba,  and  towards  even 
ing  we  arrived  at  a  hut,  where  we  halted  for  the  night,  and 
slept  in  a  miserable  shed.  But  by  this  time  we  had  become 
inured  to  this  sort  of  life. 

"FRIDAY,  10th. — Left  about  four  A.  M.,  and  reached  L'Asca- 
hoba  in  about  six  hours,  where  we  rested  till  the  afternoon. 
My  horse  which  I  had  bought  at  Laxavon,  now  began  to  show 
signs  of  weakness,  and  we  thought  it  best  to  leave  him  here,  to 
be  sent  on  to  Port  an  Prince  in  a  day  or  two.  I  therefore 
mounted  the  pack  mule,  and  we  reached  Mircbalais  in  the 
evening,  where  we  were  kindly  received  and  entertained  by  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 

"  SATURDAY,  llth. — About  one  A.  M.,  we  were  on  our  way  to 
the  capital.  After  fifteen  miles'  traveling,  we  arrived  at  the 
settlement  of  Fond  Cheval,*  which  is  about  thirty  miles  from 
Port  au  Prince.  Here  we  have  a  little  chapel  built,  and  a 
society  of  some  thirty  members,  all  of  whom  are  Haytians. 
This  small  place  of  worship  was  built  by  our  own  people,  and 
at  their  own  expense,  the  ground  having  been  given  by  one  of 
them  for  that  purpose.  We  remained  at  this  place  amongst  the 
kind  members  of  our  church  until  about  mid- day,  and  then 

*  The  Methodist  church  at  this  place  was  of  wattled  walls  and  a 
thatched  roof.  At  the  time  of  this  visit,  this  rustic  place  of  wor 
ship,  built  entirely  by  natives,  had  been  burnt  to  the  ground  by 
the  commanding  general  of  those  quarters,  doubtless  by  superior 
orders  ;  such  meetings  in  the  mountains  having  been  forbidden. 
In  fact,  the  Boyer  Government  was  not  hearty  on  the  question  of 
religious  liberty. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  219 

commenced  the  last  stage  of  this  long  journey,  to  Port  au 
Prince.  This  last  effort  was  painful,  men  and  horses  being  now 
thoroughly  tired.  For  my  own  part,  I  had  been  somewhat 
fatigued  by  the  failure  of  my  horses ;  but  my  worthy  companion 
and  fellow-traveler  had  been  more  fortunate,  his  horse  having 
gone  through  the  entire  journey. 

**  We  reached  home  about  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and 
found  all  in  good  health ;  but  a  devastating  fire  had  laid  a  great 
part  of  the  city  in  ruins ;  and  we  found  that  the  excitement  in 
the  south  was  beginning  to  assume  a  serious  aspect.  The 
Government  labored  hard  to  conceal  everything,  but  their 
efforts  were  entirely  useless. 

"  The  results  and  general  impressions  of  this  journey  upon 
our  minds  were  various,  but  powerful.  We  had  ranged  through 
an  immense  field,  where,  in  every  sense,  much  was  to  be  learnt 
and  seen. 

"  Our  outward  course  not  having  been  direct,  it  is  probable, 
according  to  the  route  we  had  pursued  to  and  fro  from  Puerto 
Plata,  we  had  gone  through  the  labor  of  little  less  than  a  thou 
sand  miles  on  the  saddle,  and  in  many  cases,  over  fearful  roads. 
The  physical  labor  was  great;  and  yet  even  this  laborious  modo 
of  traveling  has  much  to  interest.  At  least,  by  this  means,  the 
country  and  people  become  more  intimately  known  to  the 
traveler. 

"  The  sight  of  such  a  country,  under  the  circumstances  in 
which  we  found  it,  morally  and  intellectually,  as  well  as  in 
reference  to  general  agriculture  and  industry,  would  naturally 
awaken  much  thought,  and  in  fact  become  deeply  afflicting,  not 
only  to  the  missionary,  but  to  the  merchant,  the  man  of 
science,  and  the  general  philanthropist. 

"A  land  unsurpassed  in  either  beauty  or  wealth,  as  to 
nature,  occupied,  as  to  the  Spanish  part,  by  a  widely  scattered 
population,  from  which  we  had  received  every  mark  of  respect 
and  hospitality,  and  of  whom  we  had  had  every  proof  of  good 
will.  But  all  was  stagnant.  Want  of  knowledge  had  shut  up 
everything.  The  power,  or  even  thought,  of  developing  the 
boundless  resources  around  them,  were  absent ;  the  very  con 
sciousness  of  the  existence  of  such  wealth  close  at  hand,  did  not 


220  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

exist.  Ignorance,  inaction  and  poverty  seemed  to  reign  every 
where,  whilst  even  amongst  the  more  enlightened,  rising  from 
nothing  into  wealth,  seemed  either  to  be  considered  as  impos 
sible,  or  was  unthought  of  altogether.  The  cry  for  capital  was 
much  more  thought  of  than  its  creation  by  the  strong  mind  and 
arm  of  industry. 

"  In  a  moral  point  of  view,  we  had  before  us  at  every  step  a 
full  and  afflicting  demonstration  of  the  utter  madness  of  leaving 
the  masses  of  a  country  to  themselves,  to  become  a  prey  to 
their  own  ignorance,  and  consequently  unprofitable  to  the 
world.  Wherever  we  went  nature  was  glorious ;  but  man  we 
found  sunk,  wretched,  and  ignorant,  and  frequently  without  the 
means,  although  never  without  the  heart,  to  refresh  the  weary 
traveler ;  in  fact,  an  almost  universal  destitution  of  the  com 
monest  comforts  of  life.  And  yet  all  this  amongst  a  people 
with  whom  the  love  of  gain  is  strong,  and  who  only  need  to  bo 
set  upon  the  right  track  for  everything  good,  by  greater  contact 
with  enlightened  men  of  all  classes,  and  especially  with  the 
enlightened  laborer  and  mechanic  who  fears  and  loves  God, 

"  Who  shall  be  blamed  for  all  this  ?  Had  it  been  the  same 
with  Hayti  as  with  the  various  tribes  of  Africa,  where  chiefs 
and  people  are  all  alike  sunk  in  ignorance,  all  might  be  left  to 
the  silence  of  regret.  But  what  shall  we  say  when  an  enlight 
ened  community  in  a  nation,  with  an  enlightened  government 
at  its  head,  for  more  than  sixty  years  suffer  the  great  masses  of 
their  brethren  to  remain  in  ignorance  ?  Thousands  of  apologies 
are  made  for  this  in  Hayti.  But  the  time  is  come  when  no 
reasoning  can  be  accepted  in  justification  for  the  entire  igno 
rance  of  the  great  masses  of  a  Republic.  Under  such  free  insti 
tutions  as  those  of  true  republicanism,  the  great  fact  of  human 
equality  must  not  be  made  an  absurdity  by  the  utter  inability 
of  two-thirds  of  the  citizens  to  be  Republicans,  they  themselves 
knowing  nothing  of  the  difference  in  principle  between  Chris- 
tophe  and  Petion. 

"  With  every  citizen  in  a  Republic,  capable  of  understanding 
and  fulfilling  his  duties  as  such,  even  a  weak  people  would 
become  rich  and  strong. 

"  It  is  particularly  worthy  of  remark,  and  especially  for  the 
information  of  those  who  are  disposed  to  think  meanly  of  the 


FROM  HISTORICAL   NOTES.  221 

African  race,  that  in  the  population  of  the  Spanish  part  of 
Hayti,  the  blacks  are  in  the  minority,  a  large  proportion  being 
entirely  white,  and  many  of  mixed  blood ;  the  whites  are 
principally  descendants  of  the  European  Spaniards,  and  are  not, 
evidently,  without  the  remembrance  of  ancient  Spanish  nobility. 
Whether,  however,  this  supposed  superior  race  have  really  left 
the  French  black  Haytians  far  behind,  in  general  progress  and 
civilization,  is  most  certainly  no  difficult  problem.  "We  will  not 
enter  into  this  matter  at  present ;  but  it  is  perhaps  more  than 
probable,  that  Black  Hayti  would  suffer  nothing  from  com 
parison,  commercially,  intellectually,  or  politically,  with  her 
higher  and  prouder  brethren,  of  either  Mexico  or  Dominica." 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

The  nation  in  movement. — Herard  lliviere  revolts. — The  Govern 
ment  without  the  means  of  transport. — "Liberte  ou  la  Mort !" — 
Boyer  sends  forces. — They  fraternize. — The  alarm  gun. — Port  au 
Prince  in  great  confusion. — Boyer  abdicates.— Reviere  enters 
the  Capital. — He  forbids  all  ceremonies. — Ten  thousand  troops 
in  Port  au  Prince. — No  disorder. — The  new  Government  inau 
gurated. — Reviere  marches  on  the  Spaniards. — "L'Assemblee 
Constituante." — National  Guard  demands  pay.  lliviere  threat 
ens  "L'Assemblee  Constituante." — Bad  elements  creeping  in. — 
The  government  Provisoire  deserving. — M.  B.  Bird's  journey  to 
the  South. — He  preaches  in  a  Catholic  Church. 


A  People  seizing  on  the  Nation's  reins, 
Draw  oft  opposingly,  till  madness  seizes 
On  their  steed,  and  all  is  lost. 

THE  events  of  1843,  constitute  one  of  the  great 
national  epochs  in  the  history  of  Hayti. 

From  the  statements  already  made,  it  will  easily  be 
seen  that  for  many  years  previous  to  the  last  date,  feel 
ings  of  dissatisfaction,  whether  founded  or  unfounded, 
had  been  generally  and  gradually  increasing,  but 
about  the  beginning  of  this  year  all  the  unhappy 
feelings  of  the  nation  came  to  a  crisis,  the  result  of 
which  was  such  an  overwhelming  torrent  of  revolu 
tionary  passion,  that  a  government  in  many  respects 
wise,  but  never  rightly,  or  enough  so,  to  know  when 
and  how  to  yield  with  dignity  to  the  honest  wishes 
of  the  people,  now  found  itself  under  the  imperative 
necessity  of  precipitately  abandoning  all. 


FROM  HISTORICAL  NOTES.  223 

During  the  first  three  months  of  this  year,  the 
whole  nation  had  been  in  a  most  intense  state  of  ex 
citement,  and  the  Government,  instead  of  enlisting 
the  good  feelings  of  the  people  by  an  honest  and 
open  declaration  of  the  real  state  of  things,  issued 
orders  and  proclamations  which  either  concealed 
everything,  or  gave  a  wrong  view  of  the  case.  Con 
versations  on  politics  were  regarded  as  a  crime,  and 
in  fact,  the  free  and  sovereign  people  of  the  Kepublic, 
seemed  rather  to  be  considered  by  the  Government 
as  having  nothing  whatever  to  do  in  their  own 
affairs.  The  fact  however  of  the  case  was,  that  the 
entire  nation  was  rising,  and  the  orders  of  the  Gov 
ernment  to  be  silent  operated  more  like  sparks  on 
gunpowder  than  otherwise. 

All  this  had  long  been  foreseen  by  many  ;  that  it 
was  not  foreseen  by  Boyer  himself,  is  not  to  be  won 
dered  at.  He  was  doubtless  tied  up  to  his  own 
special  views  of  politics,  and  especially  to  his  own 
views  of  the  Haytian  people,  whom  he  thought  he 
perfectly  knew,  and  whose  servant,  according  to  his 
own  Republican  principles,  he  was ;  but  he  evidently 
belonged  to  an  age  in  which  he  would  be  considered 
as  its  master,  rather  than  its  servant. 

In  the  early  part  of  this  year,  Eiviere  Herard,  an 
officer  in  the  artillery,  with  several  other  leading 
characters,  raised  the  standard  of  revolt  against 
the  Government  of  Boyer,  on  an  estate  called  Pras- 
lin,  near  the  city  of  Cayes,  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  Island.  This  estate,  it  would  appear,  was  the 
property  of  Eiviere  himself. 

General  Borgella,  who  at  that  time  commanded 
the  city  of  Cayes,  took  so  decided  a  stand  against 


224:  HAYTTAN  INDEPENDENCE, 

the  insurgents,  who  had  invited  him  to  join  them, 
that  they  found  it  necessary  to  withdraw  to  the 
other  side  of  that  part  of  the  Island,  and  they  there 
fore  soon  established  their  head-quarters  at  Jeremie. 

Just  at  this  time,  it  would  appear  that  the  revolt 
ing  party  had  well  nigh  lost  courage,  and  there  is 
no  doubt  but  if  the  Government  of  Boyer  had  been 
in  possession  of  only  one  ordinary  steamer,  so  as 
promptly  to  have  despatched  a  few  well  decided 
troops  to  that  spot,  this  great  revolt  would  no  doubt 
have  been  nipped  in  its  bud.  This,  however,  was 
not  the  case,  as  the  leaders  in  this  revolt  well  knew, 
and  this  must  be  regarded  as  one  proof  that  Hayti 
was  not  driving  on  with  the  age. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  about  this  time,  or  rather 
a  little  before,  an  American  merchant  had  solicited 
permission  of  the  Boyer  Government  to  ply  two 
steamers  round  the  Island,  with  the  understanding 
that  they  should  be  at  the  disposal  of  the  Govern 
ment  in  any  case  of  necessity ;  this,  however,  had 
been  refused.  The  Government,  from  sheer  want  of 
a  spirit  of  enterprise — not  of  means — or  purely  from 
imaginary  fears  as  to  the  general  bearing  of  the 
.solicited  permission,  was  Jiow  without  any  suitable 
means  of  transport,  and  therefore  had  compelled 
itself  to  allow  this  revolt  to  spread,  notwithstanding 
in  its  first  movements  it  reeled  with  weakness  and 
uncertainty,  and  might  have  been  put  down  with 
ease,  had  the  Government  only  had  the  energy  to 
have  furnished  itself  with  the  ordinary  means  of  self- 
preservation  ;  but  it  had  been  strangely  preferred  to 
have  a  million  of  dollars  in  the  treasury,  and  thus 
leave  the  country  defenceless. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  225 

Great  military  movements  now  began  throughout 
the  country.  Divisions  of  troops,  of  four,  five,  and 
more  thousand  strong,  under  different  Generals, 
were*  now  marching  from  different  directions,  while 
in  the  meantime  the  revolters  were  organizing  their 
plans,  gaining  strength,  and  forming  a  committee  of 
public  safety.  By  the  Government,  however,  they 
were  looked  upon  as  a  mere  faction. 

Riviere  was  now  named  by  the  Committee  of 
public  safety,  as  the  "Executor  of  the  sovereign 
will  of  the  people  !"  This  .  Committee  distributed 
military  grades  and  honors,  and  the  fearful  motto  of 
its  standard  was  "  Liberte  ou  la  mort  !"* 

General  Borgella  and  some  others,  showed  a  noble 
front  of  fidelity  to  the  old  Government ;  all,  how 
ever  was  useless.  Boyer,  not  recognizing  the  feeling 
of  the  nation  in  what  was  going  on,  and  had  been 
for  several  years  past,  but  treating  all  with  disdain, 
as  the  work  of  a  mere  refractory  party  of  jealous  and 
ambitious  men,  extinguished  by  this  means  his  own 
star,  and  thus  rapidly  drew  on  the  moment  of  its  fall. 

AVhen  the  hour  is  come,  a  nation  will  roar,  and 
the  people  will  be  heard,  even  though  it  should 
be  to  their  own  destruction.  Happy  are  the  rulers 
who  know  how,  and  when,  to  stoop ;  such  deservedly 
become  the  lights  of  history,  serving  to  many  a 
future  generation. 

Some  of  the  troops  sent  out  by  Boyer,  may  have 
been  disposed  to  be  faithful  to  him,  while  at  the 
same  time  it  is  not  to  be  concealed,  that  many  wrere 
already  predisposed  to  fraternize  with  the  revolting 
arms. 

*  "Liberty  or  Death." 


HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

The  tide  of  this  great  Ee volution  rose  and  rolled 
on  rapidly,  until  towards  the  end  of  February,  when 
the  President  made  a  final  effort.  Orders  were  now 
given,  and  some  1,500  men  were  sent  under  confiden 
tial  officers,  to  meet  the  approaching  forces  under 
the  new  standard,  which  now  were  nearing  the  town 
of  Leogane.  Riviere's  column  is  said  to  have  con 
sisted  of  some  4,000  men. 

The  officers  in  command  of  the  Government  forces, 
were  the  devoted  friends  of  Boyer,  and  therefore 
were  resolved  to  strike  a  blow  for  the  still  existing 
power.  The  armies  met  at  Leogane,  and  as  soon  as 
the  attack  was  commenced,  the  Rivierists  returned 
the  blank  fire  of  a  cannon ;  in  fact  had  it  not  been 
for  the  humanity  of  Reviere's  troops  there  might 
have  been  a  dreadful  slaughter,  but  a  second  attack 
on  the  part  of  the  Government  forces  was  responded 
to,  by  a  deadly  charge  from  one  of  the  heavy  pieces 
of  Reviere's  army,  which  killed  some  and  wounded 
others ;  the  result  was,  an  open  manifestation  of  de 
cision.  As  many  had  expected,  Boyer's  army 
dispersed,  leaving  the  officers  principally  to  return 
to  the  Capital. 

The  President  might  possibly  have  made  another 
attempt,  but  some  of  the  mothers  of  those  who  had 
been  killed  in  the  Leogane  affair  just  related,  as 
sembled  before  the  Palace,  and  besides  bitterly 
reproaching  the  President,  gave  vent  to  their  feelings 
of  hatred  to  his  Government,  &c.,  &c. ;  this  led  him 
to  desist,  and  probably  to  conclude  that  all  was  lost. 

The  alarm  gun  was  now  fired  three  times,  and 
the  drum  beat  to  arms ;  the  country  was  now  con 
sidered  to  be  in  danger,  and  now  the  voice  of  the 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  227 

people  seemed  to  be  heard  with  terror !  The  eomple- 
test  confusion  followed  in  a  few  moments.  Men  were 
seen  stalking  about  the  city  in  all  directions,  some 
with  pistols  at  their  belts,  others  with  swords  at 
their  sides,  or  muskets  on  their  shoulders;  in  fact  it 
was  a  terrific  military  sight,  half  savage.  Each  one, 
heedless  of  superior  orders,  pursued  his  own  course, 
as  though  every  man's  hand  was  turned  against  his 
fellow,  without  any  previous  thought,  or  distinct  un 
derstanding  anywhere,  or  of  any  kind.  It  was  the 
confusion  of  an  unhappy  dream,  for  none  seemed  to 
have  the  sligthest  idea  as  to  who  these  arms  were  to 
be  raised  against,  or  whether  they  were  to  be  used  at 
all. 

The  terrors  of  a  plundering  horde,  driving  in  upon 
the  city  in  the  midst  of  this -confusion,  now  seized 
the  more  enlightened  portions  of  the  people,  hence 
it  was  not  astonishing  to  see  loads  of  goods  going  in 
all  directions,  on  donkeys,  men's  heads,  &c.,  &c. ; 
some  were  to  be  lodged  on  board  ships  in  the  har 
bor,  and  others  to  be  taken  to  the  neighboring  plains 
and  mountains.  In  fact  all  was  consternation,  al 
though  it  was  generally  and  confidently  believed 
that  there  was  nothing  to  fear  in  the  approaching 
army,  which  certainly  was  looked  upon  at  that  mo 
ment  as  patriotic,  and  having  only  in  view  the  honor 
and  welfare  of  the  country. 

The  Army  of  the  South  was  now  powerful,  and 
rapidly  approaching  the  Capital.  The  crisis  of  the 
moment  was  intense,  and  only  ended  on  the  13th  of 
March  1843,  when  President  Boyer,  with  his  family, 
went  on  board  an  English  man-of-war  then  lying  off 
the  harbor  of  Port  au  Prince,  and  the  responses  to 


228  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

all  the  military  challenges  of  "  qui  vive !"  at  all 
points,  were  "Patriote!"  or  "1'ame  populaire!" 

The  excitement  and  suspense  of  this  night,  al 
though  all  was  calm,  were  painful.  A  man  who  had 
held  the  reins  of  power,  and  ruled  the  destinies  of 
Hayti  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  had  now  decided 
on  throwing  up  all,  and  leaving  a  people  by  many 
of  whom  he  was  still  greatly  esteemed.  A  solemn 
stillness  seemed  to  prevail  over  the  whole  city. 
Neither  voice  nor  sound  of  joy  was  anywhere  heard, 
although  it  was  generally  known  that  President 
Jean  Pierre  Boyer  and  his  family  were  embarking 
for  a  foreign  shore. 

On  the  4th  of  March  following,  the  President's  ab 
dication  was  read  at  the  Senate,  of  which  the 
following  is  a  brief  translated  extract ;  its  simplicity 
and  truth  are  not  unworthy  of  notice : 

"  CITOYENS      SENATEURS, 

"The  efforts  of  my  administration  have  ever  been  to  econo 
mise  the  public  funds.  At  the  present  moment  there  are 
nearly  a  million  of  piastres  in  the  national  Treasury,  besides 
certain  sums  .in  France,  held  in  deposit  for  the  Republic. 

By  submitting  myself  to  a  voluntary  exile,  I  hope  to  annihi 
late  all  pretext  for  a  civil  war  on  my  account." 

In  fact,  in  a  financial  point  of  view,  President 
Boyer  left  the  Republic  in  comparatively  prosperous 
circumstances,  as  will  appear  from  the  following 
brief  financial  statement,  furnished  by  a  friend  for 
this  volume : 

"  A  little  before  the  Revolution  of  1843  there  had  been  in 
circulation,  besides  two  millions  and  a  half  of  one  and  two 
dollar  notes,  a  considerable  number  of  ten  dollar  notes,  which 


FROM    HISTORICAL   NOTES.  229 

the  President  had  withdrawn  from  circulation,  at  the  rate  of 
forty  dollars  to  the  doubloon ;  at  the  commencement  of  this 
same  year,  (1843)  the  Republic  having  a  surplus  amount  of  one 
million  two  hundred  thousand  piastres  deposited  in  the  parti 
cular  vaults,  besides  a  considerable  sum  at  the  'Administra 
tion1  at  Port  au  Prince,  both  of  gold  and  silver,  as  well  as 
paper  currency,  as  it  was  certified  on  the  '  Expose.' 

President  Boyer  had  decided  on  redeeming  with  a  part  of 
this  surplus  capital,  the  amount  of  paper  money  still  in  circula 
tion  ;  to  effectuate  which,  he  assembled  a  committee  of  well 
chosen  men  to  take  into  consideration  this  important  project, 
with  a  view  to  its  speedy  realization,  at  the  rate  of  forty 
dollars  to  the  doubloon."  * 

These  facts  are  truly  to  the  honor  of  Boyer,  nor 
would  it  be  generous  or  just  to  slight  his  memory, 
not  only  in  these,  but  also  many  other  matters.  De 
fects  doubtless  existed  in  his  Government,  but  they 
consisted  rather  in  not  doing  the  good  which  might 
have  been  done,  than  in  doing  evil ;  had  he  but 
have  stooped,  he  doubtless  might  have  conquered, 
but  he  wrecked  on  the  rock  of  unyielding  pride, 
which  has  overthrown  many  a  mighty  one.  Happy 
had  it  been  for  Hayti,  if  the  evils  which  he  feared 
had  been  shunned  by  his  successors,  and  if  they  had 
only  done  the  good  which  they  accused  him  of  ne 
glecting  to  do. 

Among  the  exports  of  1840,  are  found  the  fol 
lowing  : 

Coffee, 46,000,000  Ibs. 

Cocao, 442,305    " 

Tobacco, 1,725,389    " 

Various   Woods, 39,283,205    " 

Mahogany, 4,072,641  ft. 

*  W.  G.  Smith,  M.  D. 


230  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

In  a  Haytian  journal  called  the  "Manifesto, 
dated  April  2,  1843,  is  found  a  Manifesto  addressed 
"  A  nos  Amis  £  nos  Enemies."  *  This  piece  is  an 
appeal  to  the  nation.  It  is  rather  long,  and  enters 
fully  into  what  the  parties  considered  the  various 
grievances  of  the  people,  such  as  a  defective  Legis 
lature,  want  of  national  education,  want  of  freedom 
of  the  Press,  the  expulsion  of  the  Representa 
tives,  &c.  &c. 

This  appeal  bears  date  September  1st,  1842,  and 
is  followed  in  the  same  Journal  from  which  it  is 
taken,  by  an  oath,  taken  by  those  who  were  disposed 
to  unite  themselves  to  the  party,  in  supporting  the 
general  aims  and  bearings  of  the  piece,  of  which  the 
following  is  an  extract : 

"  I  swear  before  God  and  man,  upon  my  faith  in  my  coun 
try  and  my  reputation,  to  be  faithful  and  devoted  to  this 
association,  formed  for  the  regeneration  and  salvation  of 
Hayti." 

The  rest  of  this  oath  is  much  to  the  same  purpose, 
in  connection  with  the  manifesto  in  question,  and 
the  secret  organization  of  the  Revolution,  which 
broke  out  on  the  following  year.  These  pieces,  how 
ever,  are  followed  by  a  proclamation  to  the  nation, 
in  which  the  entire  system  of  Boyer  is  denounced  as 
hypocritical  and  tyrannical,  directed  by  an  organiza 
tion  of  spies;  and  the  whole  concludes  with  the 
following  outburst  of  military  passion  : 

"  Haytians,  to  arms !  The  country  looks  to  its  Citizens, 
and  we  are  sure  you  will  show  yourselves  worthy  of  its  con 
fidence." 

*  To  our  friends  and  our  enemies. 


FROM    HISTORICAL   NOTES.  231 

In  this  appeal  are  to  be  found  many  resolutions 
and  decrees,  among  which  it  may  be  seen  that  a  pro 
visional  Government  was  to  be  formed,  composed 
both  of  military  men  and  civilians.  This  seems  to 
have  constituted  the  platform  and  ground-work  of 
this  great  movement,  the  grand  and  leading  idea  of 
which  was,  that  true  liberty  had  been  trampled 
under  foot,  and  that  now  the  Sovereignty  of  the 
people  was  to  be  gloriously  maintained ;  while  the 
ardor  and  decision  of  the  insurgents  was  to  be  seen 
in  their  motto,  as  already  given,  "  Liberte  ou  la 
mort!" 

It  will  be  evident  in  these  proceedings,  that  those 
who  projected  this  movement,  were  not  sufficiently 
advanced  themselves,  to  see  that  the  means  by  which 
they  proposed  to  reform  abuses,  were  themselves  the 
greatest  and  most  ruinous  of  abuses*  Attempting  to 
annihilate  a  military  system,  by  the  creation  of  a  yet 
far  greater  military  power,  is,  to  say  the  least  of  it, 
a  most  strange  and  dangerous  course. 

Notwithstanding,  therefore,  this  great  national  ef 
fort  in  the  name  of  patriotism  and  reform,  combined 
the  greater  part  of  the  intelligence  of  the  Republic, 
a  resort  to  arms  in  such  a  case  was  a  fundamental 
error,  and  simply  demonstrated  that  great  intelligence 
may  exist,  without  a  sound  knowledge  of  the  real 
principles  of  true  liberty ;  the  same  number  of  intel 
ligent  men  which  in  this  Revolution  flew  to  arms, 
publicly  declaring  their  opinions  and  wishes  in  a 
reasonable  manner,  unarmed,  would  have  been 
utterly  irresistible  to  any  Government.  Hayti,  how 
ever,  is  not  the  only  nation  of  the  age  which  has  to 
learn  this  lesson ;  better  for  the  errors  of  a  mild 


232  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

Government  to  be  left  to  die  out,  than  for  them  to  be 
indefinitely  increased  by  false  and  pernicious  mea 
sures  of  reform. 

On  the  20th  of  March  of  this  memorable  year, 
1843,  the  newly  chosen  Chief,  Herard  Riviere,  was 
within  a  league  of  the  Capital  at  a  place  called 
Marquissant,  with  the  advanced  guard  of  his  army, 
which  consisted  of  nearly  5,000  men.  The  excite 
ment  in  town  rose  as  he  approached;  the  joy, 
however,  was  intense.  A  sudden  dream  of  brighter 
days,  having  their  source  in  bayonets,  was  now  delu 
ding  the  people. 

On  the  21st  of  March,  1843,  Charles  Herard 
Riviere  entered  the  Capital  of  the  Republic,  amidst 
such  bursts  of  exultation  as  have  seldom  been  heard 
in  Hayti. 

The  popular  committee,  which  had  already  been 
formed  by  delegates  of  the  Revierist  army,  had  or 
dered  a  great  display  and  roar  of  cannon,  and  other 
manifestations  of  the  high  satisfaction  which  seemed 
to  fill  all  hearts,  but  all  was  forbidden  by  the  new 
Chief,  who  wished  as  little  show  and  parade  as  pos 
sible  ;  a  course  which  seemed  to  produce  the  happiest 
impressions. 

Never  was  a  man  more  idolized  for  a  time,  than 
was  this  successful  and  triumphant  General,  nor 
ever  perhaps  was  a  Revolution  more  hopeful  in  its 
first  movements ;  in  fact,  never  could  any  man  have 
had  a  more  splendid  opportunity  of  immortalizing 
himself  in  the  right  sense  of  the  word,  or  of  raising 
a  nation  to  dignity,  honor  and  prosperity,  than  had 
this  successful  and  apparently  deserving  man  on 
this  great  and  important  event. 


FROM    HISTORICAL   NOTES.  233 

Indeed  it  cannot  be  denied  that  this  Revolution 
was  for  a  time  an  exceedingly  popular  one ;  many, 
with  highest  hopes,  had  made  immense  sacrifices, 
and  in  good  faith  patriotically  helped  forward,  as 
they  imagined  and  meant,  the  welfare  and  best  in 
terests  of  their  country. 

Proclamations,  addresses,  and  appeals  of  all  sorts, 
were  now  poured  forth  by  the  new  Rulers,  in  which 
the  past  state  of  things  was  denounced  as  a  system 
of  tyranny  and  oppression,  and  in  which  promises  of 
the  most  brilliant  character  were  made  to  the  coun 
try,  assuring  a  glorious  career  for  the  future.  In  fact 
all  was  hopeful  and  dazzling,  and  the  whole  nation 
seemed  to  bound  with  joy  at  the  prospect  of  the 
future,  which  now  was  lighted  up  with  the  most 
glowing  expectations. 

The  Capital  was  now  full  of  soldiers,  the  whole 
army  having  come  in  with  General  Riviere,  and 
notwithstanding  they  were  without  barracks,  or 
nearly  so,  some  ten  thousand  men  without  shelter, 
lodged  principally  under  piazzas  in  the  open  streets, 
and  not  abundantly  supplied  either  as  to  clothing  or 
food,  yet  the  most  perfect  order  reigned  everywhere, 
nor  was  ever  an  army  received  by  a  people  more  in 
the  character  of  friends,  than  was  the  case  in  this 
great  national  event. 

On  the  4th  of  April  the  Provisional  Government 
was  inaugurated ;  this  was  done  in  the  open  air  on 
the  large  square  before  the  Palace,  on  what  is  called 
"  1' Autel  de  la  Patrie."  *  The  ceremony,  although 
not  pompous,  was  imposing. 

*  A  national  stand,  from  which  the  people  and  troops  are  har- 
rangued  on  great  occasions. 


234 

On  this  national  stand  were  to  be  seen  many  of 
the  leading  men  of  the  nation,  military  and  otherwise. 
The  foreign  Consuls  for  various  nations,  in  full  cos 
tume,  were  in  the  group,  indicating  by  their  presence 
the  sanction  of  foreign  powers  to  the  proceedings  of 
the  day.  The  sight  itself  was  gratifying,  but  it  was 
the  hope  that  all  was  genuine  and  sound  in  prin 
ciple,  which  gave  it  grandeur. 

The  ceremonies  at  "1'Autel  de  la  Patrie"  being 
terminated,  a  procession  was  formed  and  marched  to 
the  national  Church,  where  all  was  wound  up  with 
the  ceremonies  of  Rome. 

The  new  organization  of  things  wras  now  so  far 
provisionally  arranged,  as  to  give  full  hope  of  some 
thing  more  permanent  in  due  time. 

The  Provisional  Government  deemed  it  necessary 
that  the  new  Chief  Magistrate  should  visit  the 
Spanish  part  of  the  Island.  Herard  Riviere  him 
self,  it  must  be  remembered,  was  a  member  of  the 
Provisional  Government. 

The  object  of  this  mission,  was  to  establish  the 
new  order  of  things  everywhere.  With  this  view, 
General  Charles  II.  Riviere  wras  invested  with  an 
unlimited  power  to  do  or  to  undo  whatever  he  pleased, 
but  at  the  same  time,  according  to  the  different  de 
crees  issued  by  the  Provisional  Government,  he  was 
not  only  to  render  to  them  an  account  of  all  his  pro 
ceedings  on  his  return,  but  also  to  resign  to  them 
the  immense  power  with  which  he  had  been  en 
trusted,  for  the  execution  of  his  great  mission. 

The  date  of  the  decrees  of  this  military  tour,  is  the 
Tth  of  April,  1843,  and  on  the  following  16th,  which 
was  a  Sunday,  the  advanced  guard  moved  out  of  the 


FROM   HISTORICAL  NOTES.  235 

Capital,  and  was  followed  by  General  Herard  him 
self  the  same  night. 

Port  au  Prince  was  now  therefore  emptied  of 
soldiers,  and  the  protection  of  the  city  was  left  to 
the  National  guard;  it  would  seem,  however,  that 
this  militia  being  now  called  into  active  service, 
demanded  the  usual  military  pay,  and  addressed 
themselves  to  the  Committee  of  safety,  which  had 
been  organized  by  delegates  sent  for  that  purpose 
from  "PArmee  Populaire."  At  this  appeal  of  the 
National  Guard,  the  Committee  resigned  its  powers 
to  the  Provisional  Government  on  the  22d  of  April, 
but  on  the  24th  a  meeting  took  place  of  the  officers 
of  the  National  Guard  at  the  Palace,  with  the  Com 
mittee,  by  request  of  the  Provisional  Government, 
and  a  good  understanding  was  re-established  be 
tween  the  parties,  after  which  the  Committee  of 
public  safety  resumed  its  functions. 

But  it  was  now  necessary  to  carry  out  the  great 
purposes  of  the  Revolution,  the  leading  one  of  which 
was,  to  draw  up  such  a  Constitution  as  should  secure 
to  the  nation  all  it  desired,  and  at  the  same  time  be 
more  in  harmony  with  the  spirit  of  the  age.  This 
was  felt  to  be,  as  indeed  it  was,  an  important  step, 
and  the  great  point  was  to  secure  right  and  ca 
pable  men. 

This  great  Assembly  was  called  "PAssemblee 
Constituante,"  and  was  composed  of  representatives 
of  Arrondissements,  chosen  by  electors  who  them 
selves  were  elected  by  universal  suffrage. 

"  L'Assemblee  Constituante"  met  on  the  15th  of 
April,  1843,  and  formed  themselves  to  order. 

The  nation  was    anxious.     All  felt  it  to  be  an 


236  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

undertaking,  which  in  the  most  serious  manner  in 
volved  the  interests  and  hopes  of  the  Republic. 

The  various  articles  of  the  Constitution  were  very 
fully  and  amply  discussed  in  detail,  by  thoroughly 
argumentative  and  well  reasoned  speeches,  which 
brought  out  an  interesting  display  of  tact  and  talent. 
In  fact  a  fair  proportion  of  the  elite  of  the  country 
was  evidently  present,  and  the  indications  were  clear 
and  strong  that  the  real  intelligence  of  the  country 
had  decidedly  advanced,  and  was  struggling  to  meet 
the  exigencies  of  the  age. 

At  the  beginning  of  these  discussions,  great  spirit 
and  animation  were  displayed,  and  all  promised 
well.  More  than  three  months  were  taken  up  in 
this  great  work,  but  cross  elements  crept  in  at  last. 
Each  one  did  indeed  express  himself  freely,  yet  it 
must  be  remembered  that  a  great  military  Chief  was 
at  hand,  a  fact  which  in  the  nature  of  things,  would 
more  or  less  restrain  the  general  spirit  of  this  Body, 
especially  as  one  dominant  idea  of  the  House  ap 
peared  to  be,  that  the  ruling  power  of  the  country 
must  be  partly  military ;  the  sword  being  the  ser 
vant  of  the  nation,  was  an  idea  which  seemed  to  be 
limited  to  but  few  minds,  doubtless  upon  the  old 
and  oft-repeated  principle  that  Hayti  is  an  excep 
tional  country,  which  has  long  been  a  starting  point 
for  much  reasoning  in  this  Republic,  both  on  civil 
and  political  subjects,  but  which,  however  true,  has 
led  to  much  error  and  stagnation. 

The  great  task  of  framing  a  new  Constitution,  was 
at  last  accomplished  on  the  eve  of  1844,  and  General 
Charles  Herard  Riviere  was  on  the  following  4th  of 
January  proclaimed  President  of  Hayti. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  237 

It  is  to  be  deplored  that  this  great  Reformer  and 
Regenerator  of  his  country,  should  have  been  so  im 
patient  with  the  Constituant  Assembly  for  their 
lengthy  discussions,  as  to  draw  up  two  pieces  of  ar 
tillery  by  way  of  driving  them  to  a  close  with  their 
work ;  still  worse  that  he  should,  as  a  military  chief, 
possessing  at  that  moment  the  power  and  affection 
of  the  people,  have  forced  that  Assembly  to  name  a 
President  at  all,  notwithstanding  they  were  perhaps 
competent  to  do  so. 

But  the  elements  were  already  becoming  conflict 
ing  ;  even  conspiracies,  jealousies,  &c.,  &c.,  were 
giving  fearful  sings  of  hidden  fires,  the  details  of 
which  it  would  be  impossible  to  enter  into  at  pre 
sent,  but  they  will  doubtless  be  brought  out  by 
other  pens. 

With  regard  to  the  Provisional  Government,  it 
must  be  admitted,  that  during  its  brief  existence, 
which  was  less  than  a  year,  Ilayti  was  truly,  and  in 
the  right  sense  of  the  word,  free.  Every  one  felt 
that  he  breathed  the  real  and  genuine  element  of 
liberty ! 

The  following  extract  from  the  journal  of  M.  B. 
Bird,  Wesleyan  Missionary,  who,  during  the  reign 
of  the  Provisional  Government,  traveled  on  a  mis 
sionary  tour  through  the  southern  part  of  the  island, 
where  this  great  movement  originated,  will  give  some 
idea  of  the  really  free  and  unshackled  state  of  the 
country,  under  this  entirely  new  political  dispensa 
tion,  while  it  will  show  how  fully  prepared  this 
whole  nation  was  at  that  time,  for  all  that  the  mis 
sionary  and  philanthropist  might  have  done;  or 


238 

rather,  it  will  show  that  the  moral  soil  of  Hayti  is 
prepared  for  all  that  the  Gospel  could  do  for  it. 

At  the  time  of  which  we  now  speak,  the  Church  of 
Home  was  indeed  the  national  Church,  but  its  hold 
was  then  comparatively  weak ;  no  Concordat  bonds 
at  this  time  existed,  while  every  parish  and  cottage 
were  open  to  any  and  every  man  who  might  wish  to 
enter  with  the  word  of  God  in  his  hand.  This  was 
indeed  a  golden  moment  for  the  diffusion  of  pure 
Christianity,  whether  by  means  of  education,  the 
public  ministry,  or  otherwise ;  these  facts  too  were 
fully  and  anxiously  represented  to  British  Christians, 
but  utterly  in  vain.  It  will  be  seen,  that  in  some 
cases,  during  this  remarkable  journey,  even  Roman 
Catholic  churches  were  placed  at  the  disposal  of  "  le 
ministre  Protestant ;  "  in  fact,  the  simple  peasant,  as 
well  as  the  educated  man,  felt  that  a  happy  moment 
had  come  on  for  Hayti. 

The  views  which  will  be  afforded  by  the  details 
of  the  journey  in  question,  will  also  show,  in  some 
degree,  the  contrast  which  exists  in  all  respects  be 
tween  the  Haytian,  French,  and  Spanish  communi 
ties,  as  to  habits,  circumstances,  etc. 

"DECEMBER  12,  1843. — Left  Port  au  Prince  with  simply  a 
guide,  about  day-light,  both  of  us  being  on  horseback — the  only 
present  mode  of  traveling  in  Hayti,  and  in  a  hot  climate,  suf 
ficiently  laborious.  Our  way  led  through  a  rather  populated 
and  cultivated  country,  and  in  the  afternoon  we  reached  the 
town  of  Leogane,  the  population  of  which  may  reach  some 
3,000.  On  my  arrival,  I  without  delay  sent  a  circular  round  to 
announce  that  a  meeting  would  be  held  at  such  an  hour  in  the 
evening,  at  such  a  place;  nor  was  this  in  vain.  The  atten 
dance  and  the  attention  were  good,  and  both  tracts  and  con 
versation  were  sought  after  the  service. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES. 

a  WEDNESDAY,  13th. — Left  Leogane  this  morning  about  day 
light  for  Jacmel,  a  distance  of  some  fifteen  leagues,  through  a 
mountainous  and  exceedingly  picturesque  country,  well  watered. 
We  reached  our  destination  about  dark,  and  were  kindly  enter 
tained  by  a  friend  to  whom  I  had  a  letter  of  introduction.  We 
were  tired  and  wet,  having  had  to  cross  a  serpentine  stream 
of  water  on  the  road  some  eighty  times. 

"THURSDAY,  14th. — This  morning  I  presented  my  passport  to 
the  Mayor  of  the  town.  Such  a  civil  officer,  it  is  right  to  ob 
serve,  is  the  result  of  the  revolution  which  has  just  taken  place, 
everything  of  this  nature  having  been  previously  done  by  mili 
tary  men. 

"  Jacmel  is  a  clean,  neat,  and  healthy  town,  on  the  southern 
shore  of  Hayti,  with  a  population  of  some  7,000,  and  of  con 
siderable  commercial  importance.  At  this  date  there  was  no 
Protestant  missionary  establishment  in  this  town.  By  the  call 
of  a  circular,  we  had  a  large  congregation  this  evening,  all 
listening  with  profoundest  attention,  notwithstanding  all  were 
Roman  Catholics.  I  was  allowed  to  use  the  National  School 
room,  and  some  two  hundred  may  have  been  present. 

"  FEIDAY,  15th. — This  morning  about  four,  we  were  on  the 
road  to  Baynet.  Our  course  was  over  a  bad  road,  through  a 
woody  country,  with  very  little  to  be  seen,  either  as  to  popula 
tion  or  cultivation,  or  indeed  anything  else.  After  eight 
leagues  of  slow  traveling,  we  reached  our  journey's  end  for  the 
day  at  noon. 

"  As  there  are  no  places  of  accommodation  in  Hayti,  as  a 
general  thing,  the  traveler  gets  hospitality  how  and  where  he 
can.  It  must,  however,  be  said  of  the  Haytians,  that  they  are 
even  remarkable  for  hospitality.  In  this  case  we  were  allowed 
an  empty  room  for  our  use,  and  in  the  evening  we  had  a  good 
attendance  at  a  public  service,  which  had  been  announced  to 
the  village  during  the  afternoon. 

"  SATURDAY,  16th. — This  morning  about. four  o'clock,  we  left 
Baynet  for  "  C6te  de  Fer,"  another  small,  but  important  and 
singularly  situated  village,  standing  by  the  sea-side,  about  ten 
leagues  from  Baynet.  Our  road  to  this  place  was  distressingly 
bad,  and  through  a  very  dreary  country.  On  entering  this 


240 

Strange-looking  little  village,  about  mid-day,  I  inquired  for  the 
Mayor  of  the  place,  whom  I  soon  found,  and  was  very  well 
received  by  him.  He  made  me  welcome  to  his  house,  and 
during  my  stay  in  the  village  I  lodged  with  him. 

"The  object  of  my  journey  being  explained  to  this  worthy 
magistrate,  he  forthwith  procured  for  me  a  suitable  place  for 
the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  that  evening,  and  the  attendance 
was  quite  encouraging.  Probably  the  Gospel  had  never  been 
preached  in  this  village  before ;  certainly  not  by  any  Wesleyan 
Missionary.  The  following  day  being  the  Sabbath,  an  announce 
ment  was  made  for  another  meeting  the  following  evening. 

u  SUNDAY,  17th. — To-day  being  the  Sabbath,  I  remained  at 
C6te  de  Fer.  Nothing  was  to  be  seen  or  heard  here  during  the 
whole  day,  but  arms,  drums,  and  traffic ;  the  Sabbath  being  at 
this  time  the  great  market-day  throughout  Hayti.  The  Mayor 
did  his  best  to  get  a  good  attendance  for  this  evening,  and  par 
ticularly  requested  me  to  speak  to  the  people  on  the  general 
subject  of  industry,  which  I  unhesitatingly  did,  and  we  had 
quite  a  numerous  meeting. 

"  This  is  one  of  the  most  singular  places  that  I  have  ever 
seen.  One  has  here  the  idea  of  being  shut  out  of  the  Republic, 
a  most  isolated  place,  seemingly  cut  off  from  everywhere  else. 
Crime  of  any  kind,  one  might  suppose,  might  be  practiced 
here,  with  even  impunity,  and  yet  the  people  are  evidently  of  a 
mild  and  interesting  character. 

"  MONDAY,  18th. — This  morning  it  was  difficult  to  catch  our 
horses,  and  therefore  we  did  not  start  early  ;  at  last,  however, 
all  was  ready,  and  the  Mayor  with  the  Vice-Mayor,  accom 
panied  us  a  couple  of  leagues  outside  the  village  on  our  way 
to  the  Vieux  Bourg  d'Aquin,  some  twelve  or  fourteen  leagues 
distance. 

"  The  greater  part  of  our  journey  between  Le  Vieux  Bourg 
and  C6te  de  Fer,  was  through  a  hot,  sandy,  and  rather  desert 
country ;  the  heat  and  monotony  of  which  made  it  quite 
fatiguing.  On  this  sandy  road  we  halted  in  the  course  of  the 
morning  and  partook  of  what  we  had  with  us  ;  then  proceeding, 
we  soon  reached  the  fertile  plains  of  Aquin,  and  entered  the  old 

Bourg*  about  5  p.  M. 

*  Village. 


FROM   HISTOKICAL  NOTES.  241 

"This  small  but  well-known  Tillage,  was  commanded  by  a 
military  officer,  to  whom  I  presented  myself  and  passport. 
This  colored  gentleman  received  me  with  politeness,  and  gave 
me  a  hearty  welcome  to  his  house.  I  told  him  that,  notwith 
standing  I  was  fatigued,  I  should  like  to  preach  the  Gospel  in 
the  village  that  evening;  and  inquired  of  him  if  he  could  pro 
cure  me  a  place.  His  reply  was  : 

"  *  Your  passport  announces  you  as  a  "  Ministre  de  1'Evangile," 
and  I  think  the  Gospel  should  be  preached  in  the  church.  Will 
you  preach  in  our  church  ? ' 

"  I  replied  that  I  should  be  sorry  to  pain  the  mind  of  the 
parish  priest  or  any  one  else. 

"  '  I  will  then  see  and  get  you  a  place.' 

"  He  went,  but  was  soon  back,  and  observed  : 

"  ;  It  is  now  getting  late,  and  there  is  difficulty  in  getting  a 
place.  The  parish  church  does  not  belong  to  the  priest  but  to 
the  Republic  and  its  citizens.  If  you  will  preach  in  our  church 
I  will  take  all  responsibility  upon  myself,  for  there  is  but  one 
Gospel,  and  that  Gospel  ought  to  be  preached  in  the  church ! ' 

"  I  therefore  consented,  and  about  7  P.  M.  the  commandant 
got  the  little  church  lighted  up,  and  ordered  the  bell  to  be  rung. 
Xearly  the  whole  village  must  have  come  together,  for  the 
meeting  was  very  large. 

"  On  entering  the  church,  I  took  my  stand  by  the  side  of  the 
Virgin  Mary ;  she  seemed  to  be  nearly  my  own  height,  was  well- 
dressed,  but  said  not  a  word !  '  A  mouth  but  they  speak  not  I ' 
All  was  deep  attention,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  sermon  the 
priest,  who  had  attended  a  funeral  in  the  plain,  came  up ;  he 
listened  silently  at  the  door,  and  when  all  was  over,  the  com 
mandant  presented  me  to  Monsieur  1'Abbe  le ,  who  received 

me  with  great  blandness,  and  we  spent  some  little  time  in  con 
versation.  Before  leaving  he  invited  me  to  take  coffee  with 
him  the  next  morning,  which  I  promised  to  do. 

u  TUESDAY,  19th. — Left  this  singular,  and  to  me  ever  memo 
rable  old  village.  Before  day-light  the  next  morning,  as  I  rode 
along  the  road,  it  appeared  to  me  amazing,  not  only  that  I 
should  have  preached  in  a  Roman  Catholic  church,  but  that  a 
Roman  Catholic  country,  so  evidently  open  to  truth,  should  be 
so  little  thought  of,  or  sought  as  a  mission-field. 


24:2  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

"  Continuing  our  journey,  we  soon  arrived  at  the  large  town 
of  Aquin,  and,  en  passant,  I  according  to  promise,  took  cafe 
with  the  Abbe,  who  resided  here,  the  distance  from  the  Vieux 
Bourg  being  about  a  league.  Our  course  was  now  through  a 
pleasant  country,  and  on  leaving  the  town  of  Aquin,  we  soon 
arrived  at  the  very  neat  little  village  of  St.  Louis  du  Sud,  which 
in  the  time  of  the  French  appears  to  have  been  an  important 
place.  Here  we  could  do  nothing  more  than  leave  a  few  tracts, 
and  then  went  on  till  we  arrived  at  the  rather  large  village  of 
Cavaillon,  about  seven  leagues  from  Aquin. 

"  We  arrived  at  Cavaillon  about  mid-day,  and  I  immediately 
presented  myself  to  the  Mayor,  to  whom  I  explained  that  the 
object  of  my  visit  was  simply  to  preach  the  Gospel,  and  at  the 
same  time  begged  hospitality  and  a  place  to  preach  in  that 
evening,  both  of  which  were  very  promptly  assured.  We  soon 
made  everything  known  through  the  place,  and  about  seven  in 
the  evening,  a  large  congregation  came  together  at  the  place 
appointed,  consisting  of  respectable  and  intelligent  people ;  in 
fact,  there  seemed  to  me  to  be  something  specially  interesting 
in  the  general  bearing  and  character  of  the  people  of  this  neigh 
borhood  as  though  it  was  a  special  centre  of  intelligence. 

"  WEDNESDAY,  20th. — Arrived  at  the  city  of  Cayes,  about  11 
A.  M.,  and  was  kindly  received  by  an  American  friend,  who  was 
a  member  of  the  municipality  of  the  city.  The  same  evening 
we  held  a  meeting,  and  although  the  notice  was  very  short, 
we  had  a  good  congregation. 

"  THUESDAY,  21st. — To-day  presented  myself  at  the  munici 
pality,  where  I  was  heartily  welcomed  by  the  Mayor  and  the  rest 
of  the  members  of  this  corporate  body,  most  of  whom  appeared 
to  be  educated  and  intelligent  men.  Having  stated  the  object  of 
ray  visit  to  the  Mayor,  he  very  kindly  offered  me  the  use  of  one 
of  his  own  houses,  which  was  just  finished  and  which  had  in  it 
a  very  spacious  room  on  the  ground-floor.  But  the  funeral  of 
the  parish  priest  was  to  take  place  that  evening,  and  I  there 
fore  desisted  from  doing  anything  until  the  next  evening.  Being 
thus  at  liberty,  I  attended  this  funeral  service  myself;  the 
crowd  present  was  very  great ;  but  of  all  the  intolerable  bawl 
ing  I  ever  heard,  in  the  name  of  divine  worship,  never  did  I 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  243 

hear  anything  to  be  compared  to  this.  The  chanting  was 
literally  vociferous,  and  the  responses  on  the  part  of  the  people 
amounted,  at  times,  to  a  perfect  scream.  Never  was  I  so 
thoroughly  fatigued  and  disgusted,  for  I  knew  that  the  people 
were  roaring  out  from  the  top  of  their  throats  words  of  which 
they  knew  nothing.  At  the  end  of  this  dreadful  storm,  which 
was  called  chanting  the  praises  of  God,  it  was  a  great  relief  to 
hear  an  intelligent  and  rather  eloquent  funeral  oration  from  a 
French  priest,  with  whom  I  had  the  pleasure  of  supping  after 
wards  at  a  friend's  house,  which  afforded  us  the  opportunity  of 
a  good  deal  of  very  pleasant  conversation. 

"  FRIDAY,  22d. — This  morning  sent  a  circular  round  the  city 
inviting  the  inhabitants  of  Cayes  to  a  public  service  that  even 
ing,  and  at  7  o'clock  we  had  a  numerous  and  attentive  congrega 
tion.  The  novelty  of  a  Protestant  service  was  doubtless 
powerful,  for,  with  the  exception  of  a  visit  many  years  before 
from  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  no  such  meeting  had 
ever  been  previously  held  in  this  city. 

"  SATURDAY,  23d. — Spent  the  day  in  visiting  the  people,  ac 
companied  by  my  kind  host.  Wherever  we  went  we  were 
kindly  received.  In  the  evening  we  held  another  public  ser 
vice,  which  was  very  numerously  attended. 

"  SUNDAY,  24th. — The  usual  sound  of  arms  and  commerce 
during  the  greater  part  of  the  day,  there  being  then  no  obser 
vance  of  the  Sabbath  day  in  Hayti.  In  the  evening  held 
another  public  service,  which  was  well  attended. 

"  MONDAY,  25th.— This  afternoon,  in  company  with  Mr.  D., 
called  upon  a  colonel  in  command  here,  who,  finding  I  was 
resolved  to  cross  the  island  by  way  of  Plymouth  Mountain, 
offered  to  send  some  military  men  with  me,  both  as  guides  and 
guards,  which  offer  I  gladly  accepted. 

"In  the  evening  I  held  my  last  meeting  at  Cayes  during  this 
visit,  and  had  a  good  attendance.  At  the  first  of  these  meetings 
there  may  have  been  upwards  of  two  hundred  persons  listening 
and  looking  on  from  all  directions,  for  in  the  tropics,  it  will  be 
remembered,  that  all  dwelling-houses  are  as  open  as  possible. 

"  TUESDAY,  26th.— This  morning  left  Cayes  at  day-light  for 
Jere~mie.  We  were  accompanied  by  an  individual  who  was  sent 


244  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

with  us  by  the  colonel  at  Cayes,  already  referred  to,  as  far  as  the 
military  post  called  Camperan,  with  orders  to  the  colonel  com 
manding  there  to  send  men  on  with  us  over  the  far-famed 
Plymouth  Mountain.  We  arrived  at  Camperan  early  in  the 
evening,  it  being  only  about  six  leagues  from  Cayes.  The 
colonel  here  received  us  in  the  kindest  manner  possible,  and 
after  some  refreshment,  and  examining  some  specimens  of  coal 
found  in  that  neighborhood,  he  accompanied  us  two  leagues  on 
to  another  military  post,  where  he  left  orders  for  men  to  be 
sent  across  the  mountain  with  us.  Here  we  remained  for 
the  night  in  one  of  the  most  wilderness-looking  places  I  ever 
saw  anywhere.  The  people  in  this  elevated  region  were  ex 
ceedingly  rough,  but  not  unkind.  We  attempted  prayer,  but 
order  was  out  of  the  question,  still  we  did  the  best  we  could. 

"  WEDNESDAY,  27th. — Left  this  post  about  day -light,  accom 
panied  by  three  soldiers,  armed  with  broadswords,  who  were 
under  orders  to  accompany  and  see  us  safe  across  this  terrible 
mountain,  which  we  began  to  ascend  immediately  on  leaving 
this  last  military  post.  Before  long  we  discovered  the  na 
ture  of  our  case,  and  the  entire  correctness  of  all  that  had 
been  told  us  of  this  frightful  mountain-pass.  In  many 
places  the  mountain  was  so  steep,  and  the  rocks  so  nearly  per 
pendicular  and  rugged,  that  it  was  necessary  to  dismount  and 
set  ourselves  heartily  to  work  at  climbing,  while  our  poor 
horses,  even  without  their  riders,  were  also  at  times  in  the 
greatest  difficulty  to  keep  upon  their  feet.  After  a  great  deal 
of  such  toiling,  as  in  all  my  experience  in  traveling  I  had  never 
gone  through  before,  we  at  last  reached  the  summit  of  this 
great  elevation,  but  before  we  could  find  a  suitable  place  where 
we  might  pause,  as  it  was  now  about  mid-day,  we  had  to  wade 
through  mud  up  to  our  horses'  bellies.  This,  however,  did  not 
continue  long,  and  we  soon  found  a  place  where  grass  was 
growing  which  was  green  and  inviting.  Here  we  halted, 
to  the  great  satisfaction  of  exhausted  horses  and  men. 

"  From  this  lofty  summit,  the  view  stretching  over  the  rich 
outspread  plains  below  on  either  side,  reaching  to  the  ocean, 
which  was  now  before  us,  both  on  the  north  and  south  side 
was  grand  beyond  description.  What  the  precise  altitudinal 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  245 

measurement  of  this  mountain  may  be,  I  will  not  pretend  to 
say;  it  may  be  however,  some  4,000  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
sea ;  but  the  fact  of  seeing  the  ocean  on  both  sides  from  the 
same  point  will  give  some  idea  of  its  height.  The  sight  was 
perfectly  splendid,  the  climate  also  was  salubrious,  and  even 
bracing,  although  it  was  noon  when  we  ceased  ascending. 

Our  much-needed  and  refreshing  meal  being  over,  we  com 
menced  our  descent.  This  I  preferred  to  do  on  foot,  in  this 
cold  and  invigorating  region.  Our  downward  course,  although 
not  rocky,  was  at  times  very  rough ;  but  we  at  last  reached 
4  la  Riviere  glace"e,'  where  our  guards  left  us  in  charge  of  three 
others,  who  had  orders  to  go  on  with  us  to  the  village  of  Coraail, 
which  was  quite  at  the  bottom  of  the  north  side  of  this  great 
mountain,  on  the  sea  shore.  About  5  o'clock  p.  M.  we  arrived 
at  a  cottage  by  the  road-side,  where  feeling  quite  fatigued,  I 
begged  and  obtained  hospitality  for  the  night.  This  poor  fel 
low  urged  me  to  go  on,  assigning  as  his  reason,  that  I  should  get 
comforts  at  the  village  of  Corail,  which  he  could  not  afford  me. 
I  however  remained,  and  we  were  quite  comfortable.  Our 
water,  and  all  else  needful,  was  found.  No  small  solace  to  a 
weary  traveler. 

"THURSDAY,  28th. — About  daylight  this  morning  we  were 
on  our  way  for  the  village  of  Corail,  which  we  reached  in  a 
couple  of  hours.  On  arriving  at  this  village,  I  was  very  civilly 
received  by  the  military  officer  to  whom  I  had  to  present  my 
passport.  But  to  my  great  dismay,  on  seaching  for  it,  I  found 
that  I  had  left  it  at  Cayes ;  this  was  really  mortifying.  I  remem 
bered  that  I  had  left  it  in  the  hands  of  the  Mayor  of  the  last- 
named  city.  The  officer  observed  that  he  had  no  doubt  of  my 
honesty,  but  he  did  not  see  how,  according  to  law,  I  could 
continue  my  future  course  without  a  passport ;  ho  however 
sent  for  the  Mayor,  who,  on  hearing  the  case,  shook  his  head 
quite  significantly,  as  though  it  was  a  most  serious  affair,  al 
though  we  had  military  men  with  us  who  could  not  have  come 
without  special  orders ;  but  he  left  us,  requesting  us  at  the  sarno 
time  to  remain  where  we  were. 

"  I  therefore  was  now  rather  in  the  position  of  a  prisoner  than 
otherwise.  But  I  was  soon  cited  to  appear  before  the  muni- 


246  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE. 

cipal  board  of  Corail.  These  gentlemen  received  me  very 
politely,  and  begged  me  to  be  seated.  One  of  the  members 
inquired  of  me,  quite  officially,  if  I  had  a  passport  ?  I  replied 
that  I  had  left  Port  an  Prince  with  one,  but  had  left  it  by 
mere  forgetfulness  in  the  hands  of  the  Mayor  of  Cayes,  from 
which  place  I  had  just  arrived.  I  was  then  asked  if  I 
could  show  my  ordination  credentials.  I  replied  that  they 
were  buried  in  the  ruins  of  Cape  Haytien.  It  was  then  demanded 
what  countryman  I  was,  and  having  answered  that  I  was  from 
England,  one  of  the  Board,  in  broken  English,  and  with  no 
small  difficulty,  put  me  to  the  test,  by  speaking  to  me  in  my 
own  language,  and  I  had  no  sooner  replied  than  he  pronounced 
me  to  be  an  Englishman. 

"  I  was  told,  however,  that  I  must  remain  at  Corail  until  I 
got  my  passport  from  Cayes.  This  would  have  cost  me  such  a 
loss  of  time  as  would  have  defeated  all  my  plans  and  arrange 
ments,  and  I  therefore  protested  against  this  delay,  proposing 
at  the  same  time  that  they  should  send  me  on  to  Jerernie — my 
journey's  outward  terminus— under  military  guard.  This  being 
assented  to,  I  invited  this  municipal  corps  to  a  public  service 
that  evening,  which  I  told  them  I  hoped  to  hold  somewhere  ; 
upon  which  one  of  them  immediately  offered  me  the  use  of 
his  house,  which  I  gladly  accepted  ;  and  at  the  hour  appointed, 
we  had  quite  a  large  company. 

'•'  FRIDAY,  29th. — This  morning,  about  three  o'clock,  left  this 
memorable  place  for  Jeremie.  My  military  guard  was  of  course 
to  have  gone  with  me  ;  but  he  told  me  that  he  had  no  shoes  ; 
that  the  road  was  very  bad  ;  that  it  was  dark,  cold,  etc. ;  to  all 
which  I  replied  that  I  could  do  very  well  without  him,  and 
went  on,  leaving  him  to  follow  when  he  pleased.  The  morn 
ing  was  very  dewy,  and  on  the  hills  which  we  had  to  cross,  it 
was  even  cold,  so  that  the  sun  was  welcome  when  it  rose. 

"  We  traveled  through  a  picturesque  country,  pretty  well 
populated,  and  not  without  cultivation.  About  mid-day,  we 
entered  Jeremie,  where  we  were  heartily  welcomed  by  brother 
Bauduy,  our  missionary,  who  was  at  this  time  residing  at  this 
place.  In  the  evening,  I  preached  to  an  interesting  and  rather 
numerous  company. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  247 

"The  town  of  Jeremie  has  a  population  of  five  or  six  thou 
sand,  and  is  remarkable  for  its  salubrious  climate,  being  open 
to  the  sea.  It  was  here  that  the  Revolution  which  has  just 
been  accomplished  took  its  starting  strength.  The  Gospel  here 
has  its  open  course ;  much  has  already  been  done,  and  our  hopes 
are  good. 

' '  Fever  now  laid  hold  of  me,  and  I  suffered  severely  for 
about  a  week  :  but  on  the  10th  of  January,  1844,  I  left  Jere 
mie,  being  now  accompanied  by  brother  Bauduy,  who  left  with 
me  for  our  annual  District  Meeting,  which  was  to  be  held  at 
Port  au  Prince.  Our  whole  company,  therefore,  consisted  of 
four  men,  and  four  horses.  We  left  Jeremie  towards  evening, 
simply  to  cross  the  river,  which  runs  near  by  Jeremie,  and 
thus  be  ready  for  a  fair  start  in  the  morning. 

"TiiunsDAY,  llth. — About  2  A.  M.,  we  left  the  banks  of  this 
river,  on  our  way  to  Corail.  The  moon  was  in  full  splendor, 
and  the  morning  air  was  invigorating.  I  was  indeed  weak,  and 
scarcely  fit  for  the  journey,  but  was  resolved  to  do  the  best  I 
could.  We  reached  Corail  before  mid-day,  and  this  time  our 
passports  were  at  hand.  We  held  a  public  service  in  the  even 
ing,  and  had  a  good  attendance. 

"FBIDAY,  12th.— This  morning,  about  7  o'clock,  we  left  by 
sea  in  a  canoe  for  Pestel,  to  which  place  we  sent  our  horses  on 
hefore  over  the  mountains,  which  route  might  probably  have 
been  too  great  a  trial  for  my  weakness,  in  my  invalid  state. 
We  soon  arrived  at  this  very  singular  little  village,  which  is 
situated  on  the  side  of  a  very  steep  and  rugged  mountain,  run 
ning  down  to  the  sea,  without  leaving  any  level  land.  In  the 
evening  we  held  a  public  service,  which  made  no  small  stir  in 
this  really  isolated  place.  In  all  probability,  it  was  the  first 
time  that  a  Protestant  pastor  had  ever  preached  the  Gospel 
here.  The  attendance  was  numerous,  and  the  attention  pro 
found, 

"SATURDAY,  13th.— Left  Pestel  this  morning,  about  two 
o'clock,  for  Baradere — a  journey  of  about  nine  leagues.  The 
road  we  found  to  be  both  bad  and  dangerous ;  our  traveling 
was  therefore  slow,  and  we  did  not  reach  Baradere  until  about 
mid-day.  This  village  stands  in  a  nicely  watered  dale,  a  little 


248  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

in  from  the  sea.  It  is  surrounded  by  very  fertile  hills,  and  the 
general  appearance  of  nature  here  is  rich  and  beautiful. 
We  had  a  letter  to  the  Prepose,  who  received  us  very  kindly, 
and  made  us  welcome.  In  the  afternoon,  we  called  upon  the 
priest,  whom  we  found  to  be  an  intelligent  man.  The  public 
service  which  we  held  in  the  evening  was  well  attended. 

"  SUNDAY,  14th. — During  the  former  part  of  the  day,  noth 
ing  but  traffic,  drums  and  arms.  The  market  was  held  in 
front  of  the  church ;  many  therefore  profited,  leaving  their 
merchandize  outside,  and  running  iu  to  say  a  prayer,  bow, 
cross,  and  then  fly  out  again  to  their  gains. 

"  In  the  evening  we  held  a  public  service.  In  the  course  of 
what  was  said,  I  declared  that  there  was  but  one  Mediator  be 
tween  God  and  man,  and  that  neither  the  Virgin  nor  any  one 
else  could  take  his  place ;  on  which  the  priest,  whom  we  had 
visited  in  the  course  of  the  afternoon,  being  outside,  incog., 
broke  out  with  fury,  and  in  a  defiant  tone,  demanded  where  I 
had  found  my  religion.  I  made  no  reply,  and  the  police  order 
ed  him  to  be  quiet,  on  which  he  walked  quietly  away. 

"MONDAY,  15th. — Left  Baradere  about  8  A.  M.,  in  an  open 
boat,  for  Petit  Trou,  sending  our  horses  on  by  land  to  meet  us 
at  that  place.  The  men  that  rowed  us,  having  a  bottle  of  taffia 
(rum)  with  them,  our  safety  was  soon  endangered,  and  we 
were  really  glad  to  land  at  Petit  Trou.  We  were  kindly  re 
ceived  by  the  Colonel  commanding  there,  to  whom  we  had  a 
letter  of  introduction,  and  who,  on  hearing  our  wishes,  soon 
found  us  a  suitable  place  for  an  evening  service,  which  having 
been  announced,  was  well  attended. 

u  TUESDAY,  16th.— About  3  o'clock  this  morning,  we  left 
Petit  Trou  for  TAnse  a'Veau,  and  arrived  there  in  about  four 
hours  by  land.  Here  we  were  received  with  great  hospitality 
by  a  private  citizen,  to  whom  we  at  once  made  known  the 
object  of  our  visit ;  on  which  our  kind  host  immediately  made 
us  the  offer  of  his  own  house,  for  a  public  service  that  evening. 
The  priest,  on  hearing  our  intention,  opposed  us  in  every  way  ; 
but  we  nevertheless  had  a  large  and  respectable  assembly  in  the 
evening,  all  manifesting  even  an  eagerness  to  hear  the  word  of 
truth. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  24:9 

"  WEDNESDAY,  17th. — This  morning,  about  2  o'clock,  we 
were  on  our  way  from  1'Anse  a'Veau  to  Miragoane,  a  distance 
of  about  nine  leagues.  We  arrived  there  between  9  and  10 
A.  M.  The  country  through  which  we  passed,  although  fertile, 
was  but  poorly  cultivated.  In  fact,  we  scarcely  look  for  exten 
sive  cultivation  in  a  country  where  there  are  so  few  capitalists, 
and  the  population  so  small. 

"  At  Miragoane,  we  were  welcomed  by  a  black  gentleman 
whose  career  is  specially  worthy  of  note.  By  birth  he  was 
African.  With  many  others,  he  was  stolen  from  his  country 
when  young ;  but  he  was  rescued  from  the  slaver  by  a  British 
man-of-war,  and  left  free  at  Sierra  Leone,  from  which  place  he 
was  sent  to  the  Borough  Road  School,  in  London,  where  he 
received  an  English  education,  and  ultimately  was  allowed  to 
choose  where  he  would  be  sent  to — whether  back  to  his  own 
native  land  or  elsewhere.  He  chose  Uayti,  and  was  sent  there. 
At  the  time  we  saw  him  at  Miragoane,  he  was  an  influential 
man,  and  since  that  time  has  occupied  various  posts  of  high  im 
portance  in  the  Republic. 

"  In  the  evening,  notwithstanding  the  utmost  opposition  of 
the  priest,  we  had  a  good  attendance  at  the  service,  which  had 
been  publicly  announced. 

"  TIIUESDAY,  18th. — Left  this  busy,  active  little  place,  which 
is  a  seaport,  about  3  A.  M.,  and  after  about  seven  leagues'  tra 
veling,  we  reached  Petit  Goave,  during  the  morning,  where  we 
were  very  kindly  received  by  a  member  of  the  municipality  of 
that  place,  who,  at  our  request,  soon  found  us  a  suitable  place 
for  a  public  service  in  the  evening,  which  was  very  well  attend 
ed.  This  nation  evidently  desires  the  Gospel. 

"  Petit  Goave  is  a  beautifully  situated  village  by  the  seaside ; 
well  watered,  and  surrounded  by  a  rich  and  fertile  country ; 
yet  it  has  the  reputation  of  being  unhealthy. 

"FRIDAY,  19th.— This  morning,  about  four  o'clock,  we 
started  for  Grand  Goave,  about  three  leagues  on,  and  arrived 
there  soon  after  daylight.  Here  we  were  kindly  received  by  a 
military  man,  who  immediately  placed  his  house  at  our  dispo 
sal  for  public  service,  etc. ;  but  his  wife  and  the  priest  together 
were  too  powerful  for  him,  and  he  was  therefore  obliged  to 


250  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

retract.  We  at  once  proceeded  to  the  house  of  the  Mayor, 
where,  unexpectedly,  we  met  with  the  priest,  who  without 
hesitation  gave  us  to  understand  that  he  was  opposed  to  our 
intentions  as  to  public  service  ;  but  brother  Bauduy  reminded 
him  that  he  was  iu  his  own  country,  and  declared  that  he  would 
not  give  up  his  liberty  to  him.  The  Mayor,  who  was  present, 
allowed  us  the  use  of  the  National  School-room  ;  and  the  violent 
opposition  of  the  priest  procured  us  a  good  congregation. 

"SATURDAY,  20th. — Left  Grand  Goave  this  morning  about 
three  o'clock,  for  Leogane.  We  traveled  through  a  very  rich 
and  not  badly  cultivated  country.  Our  day's  work  this  time 
was  heavy,  and  we  arrived  at  the  town  of  Leogane  towards 
evening,  quite  fatigued.  We  nevertheless  attempted  a  service 
in  the  evening,  at  the  house  of  a  friend,  who  had  very  kindly 
received  us;  but  an  African  dance  close  by  rendered  it  im 
possible. 

"  These  heathenish  assemblies  usually  take  place  either  at  the 
death  of  some  one,  or  on  the  occasion  of  prayer  for  the  dead 
some  time  afterwards ;  in  fact  the  occasions  for  dancing  and 
feasting  in  Hayti  are  many.  Wakes,  house  warmings,  bap 
tisms,  etc.,  are  all  times  of  dissipation,  especially  with  certain 
classes;  and  in  some  cases,  even  property  has  been  sold  to 
furnish  the  extravagance  of  these  thoroughly  heathenish 
occasions. 

"  SUNDAY,  21st. — This  morning,  President  Riviere  rode  into 
Leogane,  from  Port  au  Prince.  lie  was  on  horseback,  and  his 
suite  was  quite  modest  and  unassuming.  Soon  after  his  arrival, 
he  reviewed  a  regiment,  and  announced  that  the  Government 
had  decided  on  rewarding  every  soldier  of  that  corps  with 
twelve  acres  of  land  each,  for  the  very  active  part  they  took  in 
the  late  great  struggle. 

"  In  the  evening,  we  held  another  public  service  ;  but  the 
same  heathenish  dance  was  repeated,  and  we  therefore  had 
but  few  hearers. 

"  MONDAY,  22d. — Left  Leogane  about  1  A.  M.,  and  arrived  at 
our  journey's  end,  Port  au  Prince,  at  an  early  hour,  where  we 
found  all  well,  and  were  glad  of  rest. 

",With  regard  to  the  country  through  which  this  long  jour- 


FKOM    HISTOEICAL   NOTES. 


251 


ney  led,  much  might  be  said,  both  as  to  general  cultivation,  as 
well  as  the  character  and  condition  of  the  people.  As  to  na 
ture,  all  was  rich  and  beautiful ;  but  for  want  of  the  order 
which  results  from  cultivation,  all  was  more  or  less  wild.  The 
roads,  as  usual,  indicated  want  of  public  spirit  and  judgment, 
although  not  entirely  neglected  ;  and  although  this  great  penin 
sula  is  more  populated  than  perhaps  any  other  part  of  the 
Republic,  yet  the  want  of  population  was  very  apparent. 
Farms  and  properties  are  wide  apart,  and  poorly,  if  at  all, 
fenced  in ;  hence  the  general  appearance,  from  the  various  hills 
and  elevations  over  which  we  passed,  would  rather  represent  a 
rich  wilderness  than  otherwise.  Coffee  plantations  were  numer 
ous,  but  greatly,  and  perhaps  inevitably,  neglected;  for  it 
must  be  remembered  that  military  duties  had  hitherto  absorbed 
every  other.  The  cottages  also,  although  in  some  cases  neat, 
both  as  to  the  exterior  and  also  the  interior,  would  generally 
have  a  slovenly  appearance,  which  by  many  travelers  would 
doubtless  be  attributed  to  mere  indolence  and  sloth.  Unques 
tionably  this  to  too  great  aa  extent  would  be  true.  Let,  how 
ever,  the  facts  of  the  case  be  fairly  weighed. 

"  First,  we  have  here  to  do  with  an  uneducated  mass,  whose 
views  and  wants  would  necessarily  be,  in  all  respects,  limited, 
and  who  had  been  left,  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century, 
entirely  to  themselves. 

"  Secondly,  a  military  system,  which  was  ever  draining  away 
the  farmer  and  the  laborer  from  their  work,  and  in  fact,  which 
rendered  it  impossible  for  anything  really  continuous  to  be 
perseveringly  kept  up.  The  condition  of  the  people,  therefore, 
in  any  respect,  was  not  simply  the  result  of  indolence. 

"  It  will  be  evident  from  these  notes,  that  we  frequently  met 
with  highly  intelligent  people,  of  all  shades  of  color.  Forty 
years  of  independence  had  given  to  the  people,  the  majority  of 
whom  were  blacks,  such  an  air  and  gait  of  manliness,  as  can 
belong  only  to  men  who  are  fully  conscious  of  the  rights  and 
dignity  of  freedom,  and  who  also  feel  that  they  are  living  in 
their  own  free  country,  under  their  own  institutions,  with  their 
laws  administered  by  themselves,  apart  from  all  foreign  influ 
ence  or  power.  In  fact,  independence  has  fully  stamped  its 
impress  upon  the  Haytian  character,  needing,  no  doubt,  such 


252  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

modifications  as  can  only  result  from  greater  national  experi 
ence,  and  yet  greater  contact  with  the  foreign  element;  for  it 
can  never  be  supposed,  not  even  for  a  moment,  that  independ 
ence,  which  is  the  life  and  glory  of  any  people,  can  he  in  any 
sense  exclusive. 

"  In  fact,  the  hope  of  general  good,  as  the  result  of  the  great 
Revolution  which  had  just  heen  accomplished,  was  evidently 
very  great ;  and  it  is  quite  true  that  every  way  was  now  fully 
thrown  open  for  this  ;  but  it  was  little  thought  of,  and  yet  less 
understood,  that  the  moral  element  of  a  people  constitutes 
one  of  its  main  and  vital  springs — so  much  so,  that,  this  cor 
rupt  and  unsound,  leaves  but  little  to  hope  for,  whatever  may 
be  the  amount  of  general  intelligence. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

Remarks  on  the  Journey. — Provisional  Government  attempts  the 
Education  of  the  Masses. — Kiviere  takes  Azua. — Gurrier  pro 
claimed  President. — Postal  Arrangements. — Riviere  attempts  to 
land. — Death  of  Guerrier. — Pierrot  President. — He  enters  Port 
au  Prince. — A  strange  sight  at  Port  au  Prince. — Baptist  Mission 
founded  at  Jacmel. — Riche  proclaimed  President. — Wesleyan 
School  opened  at  Port  au  Prince. 


The  postal  messenger,  o'er  hill  and  dale, 

Char'g  with  the  people's  written  thoughts,  proclaims 

Another  onward  step. 

THE  notes  of  the  journey  which  terminated  the 
preceding  chapter,  afford  good  ground  for  reflection 
in  reference  to  Hayti  and  its  general  social  features, 
etc.,  at  that  time.  The  views  of  religious  liberty 
which  then  prevailed,  will  be  seen  in  the  fact  that 
the  Missionaries,  as  in  this  case,  were  traveling 
through  a  Roman  Catholic  country,  which  was  under 
the  care  of  a  Roman  Catholic  clergy,  were  Evangel 
ical  Protestants.  These  individuals,  too,  were  going 
through  the  country  for  the  avowed  purpose  of  pub 
licly  preaching  the  Gospel  according  to  their  own 
religious  views  and  convictions,  and  wherever  they 
went,  they  openly  and  fully  made  known  their  object, 
at  the  same  time  inviting  both  the  authorities  and 
people  to  their  meetings,  who  all  patronized,  en- 


254  HAITIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

conraged,  and  even  helped  them  in  every  way.  These 
Missionaries  also,  it  will  be  observed,  were  at  perfect 
liberty  to  converse,  either  controvertially  or  other 
wise,  with  the  people,  or  to  distribute  the  Scriptures 
among  them  in  their  own  language.  No  restrictions 
are  placed  upon  them,  as  to  the  distribution  of  tracts, 
attacking  the  national  Church,  or  anything  else  they 
pleased.  In  fact,  notwithstanding  the  entire  bearing 
of  this  journey  was  unfavorable  to  the  national  creed, 
not  the  slightest  restraint  is  put  upon  them.  It  is  a 
singular  fact,  also,  that  the  Missionaries  wrote  out 
their  own  passports,  giving  themselves  liberty  to 
preach  wherever  they  went,  and  had  only  to  send 
them  to  be  signed  by  the  proper  authorities  of  their 
place  of  residence.  This  was  such  liberty  as  had 
never  existed  in  Hayti  since  the  days  of  Petion  ;  and 
the  Provisional  Government,  then  reigning,  was  its 
source.  Perhaps  it  might  even  be  asserted,  that 
such  full  and  entire  religious  liberty  did  not  exist, 
and  never  had,  in  any  Roman  Catholic  country  in 
the  world. 

It  must  also  be  borne  in  mind,  that  revolutionary 
feelings,  at  that  time,  animated  the  entire  mass  of 
the  people,  and  that  there  was  even  a  spirit  of  emu 
lation,  each  one  seeming  to  aim  at  surpassing  the 
other  in  liberal  views.  Under  such  remarkable  cir 
cumstances,  it  will  be  easily  understood  that  the  true 
and  genuine  character  of  the  Haytian  people,  not  to 
say  human  nature,  would  be  fully  brought  out  be 
fore  the  world.  Such  was  the  case,  nor  did  ever 
people  give  greater  proof  of  the  existence  among 
them  of  a  deep,  profound,  and  universal  desire  for 
every  kind  of  progress  and  improvement  than  was 


FROM    HISTORICAL    NOTKS.  255 

shown  by  the  Haytians  during  this  "  Gouvernement 
Provisoire." 

With  regard  to  the  Missionary,  it  was  not  simply 
that  he  was  allowed  to  pass  on  unmolested  in  the 
name  of  toleration  and  freedom,  but  he  was  eagerly 
received.  There  was  a  burning  desire  for  the  truths 
which  he  was  known  to  preach  ;  the  people  confessed 
and  deplored  their  darkness. 

About  this  time,  one  of  the  leading  members  of 
the  Government  then  in  power,  in  a  conversation 
with  one  of  the  Wesleyan  Missionaries,  made  the 
following  remarks :  "  Sir,  if  I  could  have  it  so, 
every  man  in  Hayti  should  have  a  Missionary ! " 
In  the  same  conversation,  the  same  functionary  ob 
served,  on  the  subject  of  religious  liberty :  "  It  is 
not  merely  toleration  that  I  wish  of  our  Government, 
but  I  wish  it  to  be  understood  that  religious  liberty, 
like  every  other,  is  a  right  to  which  every  man  is 
heir!" 

In  fact,  this  was  a  glorious  moment  in  Hayti,  for 
everything  relating  to  the  best  interests  of  the  na 
tion. 

These  facts  were  fully  made  known  to  the  friends 
of  missions  in  England,  but  np  to  that  time,  all, 
since  the  death  of  Petion,  had  been  dead  and  unin 
teresting. 

President  Boyer  had  left  the  Missionaries  unpro 
tected,  and  had  even  advised  them  to  leave  the 
country ;  a  fact  which  had  for  years  past  thrown  a 
gloom  on  every  missionary  effort  in  Hayti.  Hence, 
with  regard  to  the  present  bright  moment,  the  fear 
was,  that  it  was  simply  the  flashing  meteor  of  a 
revolution,  which  would  soon  disappear.  All  the 


256  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

entreaties,  therefore,  were  in  vain,  and  to  the  cry  of 
"  Come  over  and  help  us  !  "  all  ears  were  stopped  ;  * 
an  indifference  ever  to  be  deplored,  as  will  be  seen 
in  the  fact  that  what  had  been  done  by  the  two  first 
Missionaries  stood  firm,  notwithstanding  every  element 
was  at  last  against  them,  and  that  the  present  spirit 
of  the  nation  was  so  changed  as  to  give  every  assur 
ance  that  the  work  accomplished  would  not  only 
have  been  now  immovable,  bat  highly  aggressive 
upon  error  and  vice,  whatever  after  difficulties  might 
have  occurred. 

Another  characteristic,  which  was  even  prominent 
under  the  Provisional  Government,  was  an  attempt 
at  the  education  of  the  masses,  an  attempt  truly 
laudable  in  itself,  but  it  brought  out  the  fearful  fact 
that  the  means  for  an  universal  Christian  education 
were  wanting.  Where  find  the  men  of  heart  and 
soul  for  such  a  work  ?  Yet  the  need  of  it  was  felt, 
and  the  attempt  was  made  ;  but  the  deep  moral  sleep 
into  which  the  country  had  been  plunged  during  the 
last  quarter  of  a  century  had  almost  withered  its 
energies ;  and,  notwithstanding  much  was  done,  yet 
the  unhappy  masses  sunk  at  last  to  their  former 
level. 

The  parents  of  the  new  rising  generation,  as  well 
as  their  ancestors,  had  done,  to  a  very  great  extent, 

*  It  is  not  meant  here,  that  absolutely  nothing  was  done  for 
Hayti,  but  when  a  whole  Roman  Catholic  nation  suddenly  starts 
open,  and  even  calls  upon  Protestants  Churches  for  help,  as  was 
the  case  in  this  instance,  could  any  discouragement  be  more  icy  to 
a  Missionary  in  such  a  case,  than  that  not  one  single  extra  effort 
of  any  kind  should  be  made  in  reply  to  such  a  call  ?  Well  might 
the  Koman  Catholic  clergy  express  their  amazement  at  Protestant 
indifference  to  so  extraordinary  a  call.  Truly  such  an  opening  for 
Rome  would  not  have  been  so  lost. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  257 

without  education,  and  had  even  won  their  liberty  ; 
and  the  cry  in  many  cases  was,  why  should  not 
things  go  on  in  the  same  way  ?  Nor  was  it  surpris 
ing  that  the  untutored  masses  should  be  wrong, 
deeming,  as  they  did,  the  labor  of  their  children  to 
be  needful  for  the  support  of  their  families. 

Doubtless  these  difficulties  might  have  been  over 
come  by  dint  of  untiring  perseverance,  but  the  infidel 
element  of  the  French  Kevolution  had  not  been 
without  its  influence  upon  Hayti,  and  a  Christian 
education  for  the  masses  was  therefore  scarcely  to 
be  expected,  however  much  its  need  might  be  felt. 

The  case  in  hand  will  be  explained  by  the  remarks 
of  a  Secretary  of  State  about  this  time  to  an  English 
merchant :  "  Why  do  you  not,"  inquired  the  mer 
chant,  "  put  such  and  such  policemen,  for  such  and 
such  posts  ?  "  The  Secretary  of  State  simply  replied, 
"  Because,  sir,  there  are  no  such  men  to  be  found !  " 
This  was  the  case  with  the  education  in  question. 
Had  the  education  needed  been  simply  literary, 
there  would  have  been  no  difficulty.  Nor  need  this 
be  any  matter  of  surprise,  for  we  are  not,  in  the  na 
ture  of  things,  to  expect  fruit  anywhere,  the  seed  of 
which  has  not  been  first  sown.  Such  was  the  posi 
tion  of  Hayti.  Its  starting-point  of  national  exist 
ence  cannot  be  said  to  have  been  the  Word  of  God  : 
notwithstanding  its  struggles  were  righteous,  the 
elements  of  its  birth  were  not  those  of  the  "  Pilgrim 
Fathers!"  whose  first  object  of  solicitude  was  the 
education  of  every  child  among  them.  The  circum 
stances,  indeed,  of  Hayti  were  altogether  different ; 
nor  are  we  seeking  here  so  much  to  blame  as  to  ex 
plain. 


258  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

It  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  such  a  commence 
ment  of  national  existence  should  have  engendered 
not  only  a  love  of  arms,  but  a  swarm  of  other  evils, 
which  in  after  days  it  would  not  be  easy  to  root  out, 
or  even  gradually  to  correct.  It  must,  however,  be 
admitted,  that  the  tendency  of  the  Boyer  Govern 
ment  was  unfavorable  to  African  usages  ;  its  heath 
enish  dances  were  frowned  upon ;  but  with  this 
there  was  a  moral  vacuum,  evil  was  sought  to  be 
abolished,  without  filling  up  its  place  with  positive 
good. 

One  great  and  important  event  which  resulted 
from  the  Revolution  by  Riviere  was  the  establishment 
of  a  Wesleyan  Primary  Day  School  for  boys  and 
girls.  The  founding  of  this  institution  at  Port  au 
Prince,  was  the  result  of  a  proposition  on  the  part 
of  the  municipality  of  that  capital  to  the  Wesleyan 
Missionaries  then  residing  there.  It  was  proposed 
to  them,  that  if  they  would  undertake  the  direction 
of  a  primary  school,  which  should  be  open  to  the 
children  of  both  sexes,  the  corporate  body  of  the  city 
would  meet  the  expenses,  leaving  the  Missionaries  at 
liberty  as  to  its  management  in  all  respects. 

This  offer  was  promptly  accepted,  and  in  the 
course  of  the  year  it  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  Rev.  J.  T. 
Hartwell  to  conduct  the  opening  of  the  school,  the 
Mayor  of  Port  au  Prince  presiding  on  the  occasion. 

This  school  was  for  a  long  time  held  in  the  Wes 
leyan  church,  and  it  soon  became  prosperous  and 
encouraging. 

Here  also  we  have  full  proof  of  the  liberal  spirit 
which  pervaded  the  nation  about  the  time  of  this 
extraordinary  Revolution.  In  all  probability,  there 


FROM    HISTORICAL   NOTES.  259 

was  not  at  that  time  one  Protestant  member  of  the 
municipality.  They  were,  nevertheless,  not  indiffer 
ent  to  religious  creeds,  but  they  were  free  from 
religious  bigotry;  they  had  seen  and  known  the 
"VVesleyan  Missionaries  for  some  time,  and  they 
doubtless  had  watched  their  lives  and  labors,  and 
were  convinced  of  the  soundness  of  their  general 
principles,  and  of  the  entire  honesty  of  their  motives. 

These  gentlemen  of  the  municipality  of  the  day, 
were  of  nearly  all  shades  except  really  and  fully  white, 
and  of  good  education,  their  sole  object  in  this  re 
markable  movement  being  the  public  good  ;  in  fact  it 
it  is  evident  that  the  noblest  feelings  animated  a  great 
many  of  the  Haytians  in  this  great  national  Revo 
lutionary  movement, — we  say  a  great  many,  for  it 
is  a  deplorable  fact  that  a  great  many  tares  ulti 
mately  appeared  in  this  great  event.  The  grand  idea 
of  the  movement  was  national  "regeneration!"  but 
it  was  forgotten  that  God  only  can  regenerate 
human  nature. 

Towards  the  beginning  of  18i4,  rumors  began  to 
be  heard  of  movements  and  dissafection  among 
the  Spaniards  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  Island,  who, 
it  will  be  remembered,  had  for  some  time  past  lived 
under  the  Haytian  flag. 

Two  or  three  executions  had  already  taken  place 
since  Riviere's  accession  to  power,  the  offences  of  the 
guilty  ones  being  purely  political ;  here  is  one  of  the 
strange  things  which  stares  out  ludicrously  in  these 
ephemeral  and  hollow  Revolutions.  A  man,  or  a 
party,  get  into  power  through  an  armed  and  mi 
litary  Revolution,  and  they  immediately  consider 
that  they  at  once  have  a  right  to  put  to  death 


260  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

the  man  who  does  precisely  the  same  thing ;  which 
is  simply  a  confession  that  they  themselves  deserve 
the  same  penalty.  What  can  result  from  this  but 
bitterness,  mutual  hate,  and  party  feeling  ?  while  the 
universal  demand  would  naturally  be,  who  are  these 
who  thus  assume  over  their  brothers  ?  notwithstand 
ing  these  very  same  brothers  assume  in  their  turn, 
even  unto  death.  In  fact,  Hayti  ought  long  ago  to 
have  known,  above  all  other  countries,  that  execu 
tions  for  political  offences  are  the  most  impolitic  of 
all  acts. 

Certain  tendencies  too  of  the  Government,  now 
began  to  appear,  of  a  most  unhappy  nature.  It  be 
came  gradually  apparent  that  the  civil  Institutions 
of  the  country,  which  had  been  the  result  of  the  Re 
volution,  were  becoming  distasteful  to  the  powers 
that  were,  hence  the  cry  was  soon  heard  that  Riviere 
had  proved  false  to  his  pledges.  For  a  short  time 
this  was  only  muttered,  but  these  thoughts  and  feel 
ings  gradually  acquired  strength. 

News  now  poured  in  from  the  Spaniards.  It  was 
known  that  they  were  in  arms  against  the  Hay- 
tiaii  Government ;  and  on  the  9th  of  March,  1S44, 
Riviere  left  the  Capital  again,  with  an  army  of  con 
siderable  force,  to  subdue  the  Spaniards  and  reduce 
them  to  submission  ;  here  was  indeed  the  beginning 
of  grief.  Many  who  had  been  looking  for  peace, 
prosperity  and  happiness,  as  the  result  of  the  new 
state  of  things,  were  now  torn  from  their  families  to 
go  on  a  long  and  exhausting  march  of  perhaps  three 
hundred  miles  out,  over  rivers  and  mountains, 
against  the  Spaniards,  their  neighbors  and  their 
brothers ! 


FROM   HISTORICAL  NOTES.  2G1 

News  of  the  advance  of  the  Haytians  was  con 
tinually  coming  in,  until  at  last  it  was  known  that  a 
contest  between  the  two  forces  had  taken  place,  and 
that  Riviere  had  taken  Azua ;  but  the  heart  of  the 
nation  was  already  sick.  Party  feeling  now  ran 
high.  Riviere's  egregious  errors,  in  seeking  to  put 
down  the  civil  Institutions  which  had  sprung  up  from 
his  own  Revolution,  became  the  support  of  his  most 
violent  enemies.  For  a  time  all  seemed  uncertainty 
and  suspense,  until  the  morning  of  the  3rd  of  May, 
when  General  Guerrier  was  publicly  nominated  to 
the  Presidency  at  Port  au  Prince,  on  the  Place 
Petion  ;  the  reason  assigned  being,  that  Riviere  had 
violated  his  oath  to  support  the  Constitution ;  and 
on  the  9th  of  May,  only  six  days  later,  Philip 
Guerrier  was  proclaimed  President  of  Hayti ! 

Thus  fell  the  man  who  had  taken  up  arms  to  re 
generate  his  country.  Civil  Institutions  had  risen 
up  at  his  beck,  but  they  were  no  sooner  established 
than  he  sought  to  destroy  the  work  of  his  own 
hands,  that  he  might  reign  by  the  power  of  the 
sword ;  hence  he  fell,  covered  with  shame,  nor  did 
he  ever  re-enter  that  Capital  which  but  a  few  short 
months  before  he  had  entered  so  triumphantly.  His 
army,  which  gradually  learnt  the  truth  of  things, 
abandoned  their  General  to  his  fate,  and  returned  to 
Port  au  Prince  by  small  bands. 

Meanwhile  the  newly  constituted  authorities,  not 
knowing  how  either  Reviere  or  the  army  might  take 
these  things,  put  the  Capital  in  a  state  of  defence. 
The  whole  population  of  the  city,  capable  of  bearing 
arms,  was  enrolled  and  formed  into  a  temporary  sort 
of  militia  force;  the  ramparts  and  forts  were 


262 

manned,  sometimes  by  soldiers  in  uniform,  sometimes 
by  plain  citizens  without.  In  fact,  the  reactionary 
feeling  of  indignation  was  decided  and  intense, — on 
the  part  of  the  friends  of  the  old  Government,  be 
cause  they  considered  the  Revolution  against  Boyer 
to  have  been  unjust, — and  on  the  part  of  the  former 
friends  of  Riviere,  because  they  now  considered  him 
to  be  a  traitor  to  his  own  cause.  But  Riviere  un 
derstood  his  position,  and  he  did  not  therefore  attempt 
to  re-enter  the  Capital ;  in  fact,  as  we  have  seen,  his 
army  disbanded,  while  he  himself  embarked  for  Ja 
maica,  with  those  whose  counsels  had  probably 
ruined  him.  Kiviere  died  in  Jamaica,  after  residing 
there  peaceably  a  few  years. 

Throughout  the  Southern  part  of  the  Island,  where 
the  Revolution  had  commenced,  great  dissatisfaction 
now  prevailed.  This,  however,  had  been  greatly  calmed 
by  a  prudent  and  conciliatory  deputation  which  had 
been  sent  for  that  purpose,  by  those  who  had  been 
left  in  charge  of  the  Government  during  the  absence 
of  the  President ;  but  peace  was  no  sooner  settled  in 
this  judicious  manner,  than  Riviere  himself  deranged 
the  whole  affair  through  the  medium  of  a  Commis 
sion  of  his  own,  formed  while  he  was  in  the  Eastern 
part,  and  meaning  to  apply  fearful  severity  to  certain 
political  offenders,  (as  he  deemed  them.)  By  this 
means  he  embittered  the  entire  of  the  Southern  part 
of  the  Island  against  himself,  and  originated  a  rebel 
lion  which  ultimately  was  headed  by  an  obscure  in 
dividual  named  Acaau,  who  was  finally  named 
General,  and  for  a  time  became  powerful  and  exceed 
ingly  troublesome  to  the  Government.  In  fact,  it  is 
easy  to  conceive  from,  these  statements  that  the  gen- 


FROM   HISTORICAL  NOTES.  263 

eral  element  of  things  was  now  conflicting ;  but 
General  Guerrier's  Government  gradually  acquired 
strength,  and  more  or  less  of  an  onward  movement 
seemed  to  be  the  order  of  the  day. 

A  new  and  highly  important  national  institution, 
which  came  into  existence  about  this  time,  is  worthy 
of  special  notice — we  now  refer  to  a  well  organized 
system  of  Postage.  It  is,  indeed,  a  singular  fact 
that  a  nation  so  long  under  the  direction  of  an  intel 
ligent  man,  with  a  gradually  increasing  commerce, 
should,  up  to  this  time,  have  been  without  the 
means  of  a  sure  and  safe  postal  intercourse  and  cor 
respondence.  Up  to  this  date  letters,  etc.,  in  the 
merchants'  service,  had  been  transmitted  by  men 
hired  for  that  purpose,  or  by  any  other  accidental 
opportunity  which  might  occur,  and  was  attended 
with  more  or  less  risk  and  inconvenience ;  but  the 
value  of  the  new  institution,  so  long  needed,  was 
soon  felt,  and  its  necessity  and  advantage  soon  be 
came  its  security. 

In  fact,  all  was  again  hopeful ;  the  spirit  of  those 
who  had  been  of  good  faith  in  this  He  volution,  now 
began  to  develope  itself,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  follow 
ing  extracts  from  one  or  two  official  Circulars,  sent 
out  this  year,  1844,  by  "  Le  Ministre  des  Cultcs  et  de 
PInstruction  Publique." 

The  first  of  these  remarkable  Circulars  is  addressed 
to  all  Judicial,  Educational  and  Ecclesiastical  func 
tionaries,  whether  Roman  Catholic  or  otherwise  : 

"  GENTLEMEN, — The  influence  of  Religion  on  public  Edu 
cation,  and  on  the  happiness  of  a  people,  is  now  no  longer  a 
matter  of  dispute. 

"  Napoleon  the  First  felt  the  necessity  of  re-establishing  a 


264  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

public  faith  ;  Lis  powerful  legislative  instinct  revealed  to  him 
the  fact  of,  no  Altar !  no  People  I  No  more  than  there  could 
be  a  People  without  laws  and  magistrates. 

"  At  the  present  time,  smitten  as  we  are  with  this  great  in 
ternal  plague,  and  honestly  wishing  to  apply  the  needful 
remedy,  we,  on  looking  into  the  source  and  cause  of  the  disease, 
find  ourselves  compelled  to  see  it  in  the  neglect  and  indifference 
of  our  former  Government,  which  never  adopted  any  effectual 
measures  for  keeping  out  of  the  country  evilly  disposed  and 
unworthy  ministers,  rejected  by  their  own  Bishops,  mere  in 
truders,  whose  papers  no  one  took  the  trouble  to  examine ; 
coming  rather  to  cultivate  our  vices  than  to  expel  them ;  much 
more  eager  for  gain  than  to  gain  souls  to  God ;  who,  with  im 
punity  before  an  indifferent  authority,  have  made  a  merchan 
dize  of  Religion,  adding  to  their  scandalous  simonies  the 
scandal  of  a  wicked  life,  and  thus  misleading  a  people  who 
would  have  followed  better  examples. 

"  You,  Ministers  of  the  Protestant  worship,  continue  to  exer 
cise  with  perfect  liberty  your  religious  rites ;  our  creeds  may 
be  different,  but  our  hopes  are  in  the  same  God ;  and  let  all  our 
subordinate  authorities  bear  in  mind  that  intolerance  is  a 
monstrous  thing. 

"It  is  worthy  of  the  Christian  pulpit  publicly  to  preach  the 
duty  of  industry,  as  one  of  the  great  pillars  of  society ;  and  also 
as  one  of  the  conservative  powers  of  our  nationality.  Let  the 
sacred  "Word  recall  from  their  errors  any  who  through  igno 
rance,  depravity,  or  any  other  cause,  have  been  led  to  attach 
any  importance  to  the  color  of  the  skin ;  let  it  be  remembered 
that  He  who  created  our  bodies,  and  gave  them  different  hues, 
also  created  the  soul,  that  nobler  part  of  man,  which  is  without 
color. 

"  I  beg  all  the  members  of  Judicial  and  Municipal  Bodies, 
with  the  entire  Clergy,  Catholic  or  otherwise,  to  accept  my 
most  distinguished  consideration." 

The  next  extract  is  from  an  official  Circular,  sent 
out  from  the  same  Department  of  State,  on  the  sub 
ject  of  Education : 


FROM   HISTORICAL  NOTES.  265 

PUBLIC   INSTRUCTION. 

"  The  whole  system  of  Education  is  now  to  be  reconstructed ; 
it  existed  only  in  name  under  the  late  Government.  Hence, 
what  do  we  see  as  the  result  of  what  was  done  in  the  way  of 
Education  during  the  last  quarter  of  a  century?  How  truly  is 
this  lost  time  to  be  regretted ! 

"  It  is  now  evident  that  if,  during  the  past  prosperity  of  the 
country,  there  had  been  any  real  effort,  on  a  large  and  becom 
ing  scale,  to  spread  light  and  knowledge  throughout  the  Re 
public,  Hayti  would,  at  the  present  time,  have  presented  a 
splendid  spectacle  to  the  world  ;  she  would  now  have  taken  an 
honorable  stand  among  the  civilized  nations  of  the  age.  So 
ciety  with  us  has  retrograded ;  it  is,  indeed,  now  stirred  from 
its  deepest  depths. 

"  It  is  desirable  that  in  every  place,  where  a  Municipal  Body 
exists,  some  of  the  public  funds  should  be  devoted  to  the  estab 
lishment  of  a  Primary  School ;  there  can  be  no  doubt  but  Gov 
ernment  would  help. 

"  In  my  judgment,  it  would  be  better  that  the  Schools  should 
be  upon  the  plan  of  the  Protestant  School  of  the  Capital,  viz., 
for  both  sexes. 

"  I  would  not  conclude  this  Circular  without  calling  upon  all 
Educational  Committees  to  send  me  a  note  of  all  such  public 
School  Masters  as  render  themselves  especially  worthy  of  no 
tice,  that  they  may  receive  the  encouragement  which  is  due  to 
them.  Those  who  devote  themselves  with  energy  to  the  work 
of  banishing  ignorance  from  society,  deserve  well  of  their 
country." 

Another  extract  from  a  public  Oration,  made  by 
the  same  distinguislied  individual,  will  also  show  the 
earnestness  of  the  spirit  of  that  day  on  the  subject  of 
Education.  The  occasion  of  this  oration  was  the 
public  distribution  of  prizes  at  the  National  Lyceum, 
after  the  annual  examination  of  18M. 

On  this  occasion  great  preparations  were  made  ; 
the  object  being,  not  only  to  encourage  the  students 


266 

to  the  utmost,  but  also  to  prove  to  the  world,  in  the 
most  practicable  manner  possible,  the  views  and  feel 
ings  of  the  then  existing  Government,  on  the  great 
and  important  subject  of  Education. 

It  has  long  been  customary  in  Hayti,  at  these  pub 
lic  examinations,  for  the  successful  students  to  be 
crowned  with  a  laurel  wreath,  and  also  to  receive, 
occasionally,  other  handsome  tokens  of  encourage 
ment. 

On  this  occasion  the  President  of  the  Republic  was 
present,  with  the  Ministers  of  State,  as  well  as  the 
Foreign  Consuls.  A  special  tent  was  erected  and 
decorated  for  this  brilliant  and  numerous  assemblage, 
and  the  intervals  were  cheered  by  military  music. 

Soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  President,  Mons.  II. 
Fery,  the  Secretary  of  State,  Ministre  des  Cultes, 
etc.,  came  forward  and  pronounced  an  Oration,  from 
which  the  following  is  an  extract : 

"JEUNES  ELEYES* — This  Educational  Fete,  established  to 
demonstrate  before  your  own  families  your  own  progress,  and 
to  distribute  among  you  those  crowns  of  approbation  which 
your  assiduity  and  ardor  have  merited,  etc.,  is  the  patriotic  joy 
of  the  authorities,  by  whom  you  are  now  surrounded  ;  in  fact, 
this  touching  scene  reminds  us  all  that  Education  effaces  na 
tional  distinctions  and  brings  all  hearts  into  unity ;  the  spread 
of  light  abolishes  prejudice,  unites  peoples,  polishes  man,  and 
introduces  into  Commerce  the  charms  of  urbanity  and  honor. 

"  The  youth  of  Hayti  thirst  for  knowledge ;  they  wish  to 
drink  at  the  fountain  of  truth,  and  seem  to  be  impelled  forward 
by  an  irresistible  instinct  towards  the  great  object  of  their  be 
ing  ;  and  we  hope,  therefore,  that  henceforth  the  competition 
will  be  great. 

"  The  present  Government  hails  this  intellectual  movement 
with  delight;  and,  without  pride,  wishes  to  identify  itself  with 

*"  Young  Students. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  267 

it,  and  to  encourage  it  to  the  utmost ;  knowing,  as  it  does,  that 
love  of  knowledge  is  the  distinguishing  feature  of  the  present 
age ;  which,  founded  in,  and  ruled  by  religion,  lights  up  the 
hopeful  future  of  a  nation. 

44  Perhaps,  before  long,  you,  young  students,  will  be  called  by 
your  country  to  bring  into  action  the  talents  which  you  are 
now  acquiring;  therefore,  under  the  shield  of  an  enlightened 
faith  and  a  pure  morality,  resist  unceasingly  every  evil  passion  ; 
amass  the  precious  treasure ;  your  country  demands,  not  only 
enlightened  men,  but  men  whose  knowledge  shall  be  found  to 
be  of  a  sound  and  honorable  character. 

44  May  that  Divine  Providence,  which  has  ever  watched  over 
Hayti,  make  you  better  than  your  fathers. 

44  Vive  le  President  Guerrier !" 

More  was,  indeed,  said  on  this  occasion,  but  per 
haps  the  preceding  extracts  will  suffice  to  show  the 
laudable  feelings  which  animated,  not  only  the  Sec 
retary  himself,  but  the  nation  at  large. 

In  fact,  it  is  impossible  to  read  these  addresses 
without  being  deeply  impressed  with  the  thoroughly 
liberal  and  noble  spirit  which  breathes  in  almost 
every  sentence  of  them ;  and  the  pleasure  of  these 
statements  is  even  increased  by  the  fact,  that  Mons. 
II.  Fery  was  a  conscientious  Koman  Catholic  ;  a  man 
of  good  education,  great  intelligence,  and  well 
worthy  of  his  distinguished  position.  Indeed,  it  will 
easily  be  seen  that  the  reigning  spirit  of  the  day  was 
liberal  and  stirring :  but  alas !  the  Revolution,  while 
it  brought  many  an  honest  man  upon  the  stage  of 
action,  opened  at  the  same  time  the  flood-gates  of  in 
iquity,  and  lighted  up  the  fierce  fires  of  party  feeling, 
jealousy  and  hate. 

But  Divine  Providence  was  again  about  to  change 
the  scene ;  the  days  of  President  Guerrier  were  now 


268  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

nearly  numbered  ;  he  was  drawing  near  the  borders 
of  mortality. 

About  this  time  also,  Riviere  made  a  great  attempt 
to  regain  his  lost  seat ;  he  hovered  about  his  native 
shores,  and  the  alarm  of  his  approach  soon  ran 
through  the  nation  ;  anxiety  was,  for  a  moment,  in 
tense  ;  but  this  man  had  utterly  lost  the  affections  of 
his  country. 

A  proclamation  was  issued  by  the  Government  that 
Riviere  deserved  no  further  compassion  from  the  na 
tion  ;  there  was,  however,  no  danger ;  his  case  was  lost 
with  the  people  ;  but  another  wave  of  national  sorrow, 
which  had  been  feared,  was  coming  on. 

President  Guerrier  expired  on  the  15th  day  of 
April,  1845,  and  his  death  was  a  great  grief  to  the 
whole  Republic. 

On  the  following  day,  General  Pierrot  was  pro 
claimed  President  of  Hayti.  The  residence  of  this 
Military  Chief  was  in  the  Northern  part  of  the 
Island,  near  Cape  Haytien. 

An  idea  will  be  formed  of  one  of  the  national 
weaknesses,  which  was  now  prevailing,  by  the  fol 
lowing  simple  anecdote  of  Pierrot,  who  was  more  a 
sort  of  military  farmer  than  otherwise  : 

"  Do  you  observe  that  the  chickens  of  the  hen,  all  vary  in 
color,  etc.,  yet  they  all  come  from  one  source !" 

It  may  seem  inexplicable  to  all  who  are  not  ac 
quainted  with  Hayti,  as  indeed  it  really  is,  that  such 
a  thing  as  prejudice  of  color  should  even  be  possible, 
especially  where  men  of  all  hues  and  shades  have 
resided,  and  been  in  such  close  intercourse  for  so 
many  generations.  It  is  not,  however,  to  be  con- 


FBOM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  269 

cealed,  that  this  great  and  unpardonable  absurdity 
has  had  sufficient  power  in  Hayti  to  create  party- 
feeling.  The  thing  itself  has  always  been  felt  to  be 
too  great  an  outrage  on  common  sense  to  be  openly 
avowed;  still  President  Pierrot,  knowing  the  feelings 
of  his  country  in  this  significant,  although  simple 
manner,  openly  repudiated  the  idea  of  such  a  thing. 
But  the  tares  of  the  Riviere  Revolution  were 
becoming  stronger  than  the  wheat.  Good  had  indeed 

O  C? 

been  done,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  preceding  pages. 
But  it  will  not  be  difficult  to  perceive,  that  only  one 
evil,  thoroughly  dominant,  in  any  form,  will  soon 
generate  countless  others.  Such  was  the  case  in  this 
instance ;  the  sword  once  drawn,  is  not  always  easily 
put  down. 

On  the  8th  of  May,  President  Pierrot  made  his 
official  and  formal  entry  into  Port  au  Prince,  amidst 
great  firing  of  cannon,  and  every  other  display  that 
was  considered  becoming  such  an  occasion.  Still 
there  was  great  uneasiness  in  the  present  state  of 
things,  as  will  appear  from  a 'small  incident  related 
in  the  journal  of  the  Wesleyan  missionary,  then 
residing  at  Port  au  Prince. 

"STJXDAT,  May  18. — While  reclining  after  the  morning  ser 
vice,  I  heard  a  great  bustle  in  the  street.  On  looking  out,  I 
found  that  the  whole  town  was  in  confusion — generals,  colonels, 
officers  of  all  grades,  together  with  private  soldiers  and  simple 
citizens,  were  all  running  together,  pell  mell,  some  on  horse 
back,  others  on  foot,  and  all  in  excessive  haste ;  some  falling 
down  with  their  horses,  others  buckling  on  their  swords,  as 
they  scampered  hurriedly  along.  In  fact,  to  crown  the  whole 
business,  the  alarm-drum  was  sounded,  and  although  but  few 
knew  why,  yet  such  a  note  being  so  well  known  in  Hayti,  all 
was  soon  confusion  worse  confounded. 


270 

"  The  history  of  this  whole  affair  at  last  turned  out  to  be, 
that  the  National  Guard  being  ordered  to  the  frontiers,  instead 
of  going  forthwith,  demanded  time  to  prepare,  and  were  there 
fore  considered  by  the  President  to  be  in  a  state  of  rebellion. 
Hence  the  alarm-drum,  and  all  the  ludicrous  scene  that  fol 
lowed.  For  a  few  moments  all  was  terror  and  confusion,  but 
everything  soon  subsided,  and  all  was  peace." 

The  fact  was,  that  the  general  state  of  things  just 
at  this  moment,  was  very  excitable.  The  Western 
part  of  the  Republic  was  not  pleased  at  the  course 
pursued  by  the  people  of  the  North  ;  but  party- 
feeling  would  have  a  northern  man,  however  unfit. 

Towards  the  latter  end  of  this  year,  a  few  mis 
guided  men  attempted  a  stir  in  the  town  of  Leogane, 
not  far  from  Port  au  Prince ;  but  some  of  them,  in 
their  struggles  with  the  authorities,  were  shot,  and 
the  thing  was  put  down. 

During  this  year  the  English  Baptist  mission  was 
commenced  at  Jacmel,  by  the  Rev.  E.  Francis,  who 
landed  at  Jacmel  December  10,  1845.  His  urbanity 
soon  won  upon  the  people ;  but  to  the  grief  of  that 
entire  community,  he  was  soon  called  away  by  death. 
He  died  July  26,  1846. 

The  very  prompt  manner  in  which  this  first  English 
Baptist  Missionary  had  gained  upon  the  public  at 
large,  afforded  the  strongest  hope  of  success,  had  his 
valuable  life  been  spared.  He  was,  however,  soon 
well  and  effectively  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  W.  H. 
"VYebley,  who  landed  at  Jacmel  from  England  on  the 
14th  of  February,  1847,  and  by  whose  intelligent  and 
untiring  zeal  an  interesting  church  of  several  mem 
bers  was  soon  formed.  Before  long  a  suitable  place 
of  worship  was  erected,  the  entire  frame-work  of 


FROM   HISTORICAL  NOTES.  271 

which,  with  the  workmen,  came  out  from  the  United 
States,  which  the  Missionary  himself  had  visited  for 
the  direction  of  this  important  undertaking. 

The  whole  of  this  building  is  well  planned,  and 
combines  under  the  same  roof  both  the  church  and 
dwelling.  The  hall,  serving  as  church  on  the  ground 
floor,  is  spacious,  and  might  accommodate  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty  hearers.  Two  rows  of  Corinthian 
pillars,  while  they  give  an  air  of  elegance  to  the 
interior  of  the  church,  support  at  the  same  time  the 
dwelling  above.  The  pulpit  is  of  American  style, 
with  a  commodious  sofa  in  it ;  in  the  communion 
stands  a  powerful,  but  sweet  American  melodeon,  the 
gift  of  the  deservedly  beloved  Mrs.  Webley,  whose 
mortal  remains  were  committed  to  the  earth  in  the 
graveyard  at  Jacmel,  by  the  Wesleyan  Missionary, 
M.  B.  Bird,  of  Port  au  Prince,  011  the  30th  of 
October,  1852. 

The  front  of  this  building  facing  the  street,  with  its 
bold  Corinthian  columns  outside,  although  of  wood, 
as  is  the  whole  structure,  has  a  somewhat  imposing 
appearance,  especially  for  such  a  town  as  Jacmel, 
and  to  one  of  Protestant  feelings,  is  exceedingly 
gratifying. 

On  the  13th  of  March,  1853,  this  handsome  hall, 
serving  as  church,  was  as  such  opened  and  dedicated 
to  the  public  worship  of  God  by  the  same  Wesleyan 
Missionary,  who  but  a  few  months  previous  had  per 
formed  the  mournful  duties  above  referred  to. 

The  openings  and  dedications  of  such  buildings  for 
such  high  purposes  justly  form  important  and  deeply 
interesting  epochs  in  the  annals  of  Haytian  Protest 
antism  : 


272 

Temples  where  truth  stand,  naked  and  uncarved, 
Bold  as  eternity,  nor  veiled,  nor  marrM  ! 

The  congregations  at  these  opening  services,  morn 
ing  and  evening,  consisted  mostly  of  Roman  Catho 
lics,  the  greater  part  of  whom  were  of  good  educa 
tion,  and  of  the  highest  respectability.  Tn  fact,  the 
hearty  welcome  given  to  this  event  by  the  Roman 
Catholics  as  well  as  Protestants  of  Jacmel  was 
evident,  marked,  and  hopeful ;  and  it  is  gratifying  to 
add,  that  truth  has  long  silently  told  upon  error  in 
this  great  work. 

This  important  mission  was  now,  therefore,  finally 
established.  But  the  friends  of  missions  have  to 
remember,  that  in  all  such  cases,  it  is  simply  the 
nursery  that  is  completed,  the  main  work  still 
remaining  to  be  done. 

The  great  work  of  education  was  well  and  earn 
estly  commenced  at  this  station,  and  the  good  tha; 
was  done  by  means  of  a  prosperous  school,  in  a  com 
paratively  short  time,  by  two  devoted  English  ladies, 
was  incalculable  in  worth,  and  in  some  cases,  will 
doubtless  be  everlasting  in  duration.  But  circum 
stances  ultimately  came  on,  which  withdrew  these 
ladies  from  this  institution,  and  their  loss  may  be 
considered  to  have  been  a  calamity  to  the  Mission, 
and  to  the  town  of  Jacmel.  Had  this  institution 
continued,  the  good  that  would  have  been  realized — 
if  we  may  judge  by  its  success  during  the  few  years 
of  its  existence — would  doubtless  have  been  incalcu 
lable.  It  is,  therefore,  to  be  deplored,  that  needful 
means  were  not  furnished  to  this  Mission  for  this 
purpose :  the  support  and  continuance  of  such  a  school, 


FKOM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  273 

in  such  a  community,  would  have  been  worthy  of  any 
and  every  sacrifice. 

Pierrot's  Government  soon  became  unsatisfactory  ; 
the  utter  unsuitableness  of  the  man  seemed  to  be 
the  universal  conviction  of  the  nation.  This  gradu 
ally  increased,  until  the  28th  February,  when  the 
alarm-gun  was  again  fired  from  the  national  fort  of 
Port  au  Prince.  There  seemed,  however,  to  have 
been  so  general  an  expectation  of  this,  that  the  effect 
was  not  very  terrific ;  and  on  the  1st  of  March,  1846, 
the  public  was  informed  that  General  Riche  had 
been  named  President  of  Hayti.  But  for  some  ten 
or  eleven  days  after  this  announcement,  the  whole 
country  was  in  suspense,  not  knowing  how  the 
southern  part  of  the  island,  which  was  still  in  a  state 
of  excitement  and  agitation,  might  view  this  singu 
larly  rapid  change.  Nor  could  it  be  known  at  the 
moment  how  the  people  in  the  North  would  submit 
to  such  a  dismissal  of  the  President,  who  was  princi 
pally  of  their  choice,  and  who  was  living  amongst 
them.  In  fact,  it  was  uncertain  whether  peace  or 
war  would  be  the  result  of  these  seemingly  hurried 
steps  of  putting  Pierrot  aside  for  Riche.  But  the 
entire  unfitness  of  the  man  dismissed,  seemed  to 
overcome  every  other  consideration  throughout  the 
country;  and  on  the  12th  of  March,  1846,  General 
Riche,  with  all  due  formality,  was  proclaimed  Presi 
dent  of  Hayti,  on  which  day  he  himself  appeared  on 
1'Autel  de  la  Patrie,  at  Port  au  Prince,  where,  with 
an  uplifted  sword  in  one  hand,  and  a  recently  re 
modeled  Constitution  in  the  other,  in  the  presence 
of  a  great  multitude,  he  swore  fidelity  to  the  nation, 
which  was  followed  by  loud  vivas,  and  firing  of  can- 


274  HAYTTAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

non.  In  fact,  there  were  very  hearty  and  general 
demonstrations  of  joy.  The  national  feeling  on  this 
occasion,  and  in  favor  of  the  change,  being  unani 
mous,  or  nearly  so. 

All  being  over  here,  the  whole  procession  moved 
solemnly  on  to  the  cathedral  church,  attended  with 
every  possible  display  of  music.  At  the  church  the 
usual  ceremonies  were  performed,  to  which  was 
added  an  eloquent  oration  from  the  priest. 

On  the  24th  of  March,  1846,  President  Kiche  took 
the  oath  of  fidelity  to  the  nation,  officially,  and  with 
all  due  formality. 

Things  now  were  tranquil,  and  the  country  once 
more  seemed  to  have  the  hope  of  better  days ;  in 
this,  there  can  be  no  doubt,  that  both  the  President 
and  his  ministers  were  entirely  sincere. 

The  President  now  chosen,  although  not  a  man  of 
education,  was  doubtless  of  good  faith  with  the 
people,  and  being  surrounded  as  to  his  cabinet,  etc., 
by  well-educated  and  intelligent  men,  in  whom  he 
had  entire  confidence,  the  general  impression  seemed 
to  be  in  all  respects  favorable. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  in  1843,  the  municipal 
body  of  Port  au  Prince  proposed  to  the  "Wesleyan 
Missionaries  then  residing  in  that  city,  that  they 
should  commence  a  public  school,  to  be  gratuitously 
open  to  both  sexes,  and  that  the  institution  should 
be  sustained  by  the  municipality ;  but  the  various 
changes  which  subsequently  took  place,  had  proved 
unfavorable  to  this  establishment.  Up  to  184T,  it 
had  received  more  or  less  encouragement  from  the 
different  Governments  which  had  succeeded  the  days 
of  Eiviere.  The  municipality  which  gave  it  birth 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  275 

having  changed  its  form  of  existence,  and  lost  many 
of  its  pecuniary  resources; — in  fact,  circumstances 
had  so  changed,  and  the  means  of  supporting  this 
important  institution  were  now  so  completely  embar 
rassing,  that  it  became  a  question  whether  it  should 
stand  or  fall.  The  great  difficulty  was  the  creation 
of  funds.  The  Mission  funds  of  England,  it  was 
said,  were  raised  purely  for  the  preaching  of  the 
Gospel ;  hence  there  was  no  hope  from  that  quarter. 
The  Missionary,  therefore,  was  compelled  to  appeal 
to  the  public,  or  cease  this  now  important  department 
of  his  work. 

To  allow  such  a  school  to  disappear  was  impossible, 
numbering  as  it  did  at  that  time  some  three  hundred 
scholars,  of  both  sexes,  to  whom  the  "Word  of  God 
was  taught,  and  so  preached  as  unquestionably  to 
have  justified  the  appropriation  of  Mission  funds  for 
that  purpose. 

The  appeal  for  monthly  subscribers  was  promptly 
and  liberally  responded  to  by  many  Haytians,  and 
especially  by  the  foreign  merchants,  who  most  of 
them  understood  this  trying  case.  The  labor  of  thus 
sustaining  this  Protestant  institution  was  great ;  but 
the  importance  of  the  work  was  also  great,  and  all 
was  compensated  by  abundant  prosperity. 

A  building  expressly  for  this  institution  had  long 
been  desirable,  the  AVesleyan  church  having  been 
hitherto  occupied  during  the  week  for  educational 
purposes ;  but  the  want  of  funds  was  the  great 
difficulty.  All,  as  to  public  instruction,  was  now 
dependent  upon  the  liberality  of  Port  au  Prince.  A 
special  effort,  therefore,  in  the  way  of  public  sub 
scriptions,  was  undertaken,  apart  from  the  monthly 


276  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

contributions  which  were  still  going  on  ;  and  the 
good  will  of  the  public  of  all  classes  crowned  this 
extra  effort  with  success.  A  building,  fifty  feet 
square,  fifteen  feet  from  the  floor  to  the  ceiling, 
having  large  openings,  with  a  house  for  the  head 
master  attached  to  it,  were  soon  completed — all  being 
on  the  Wesleyan  church  premises. 

This  large  school  house  was  opened  and  dedicated 
to  the  great  purpose  of  Christian  education,  on  the 
1st  of  July,  1846.  At  half-past  eight  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  this  day,  Mons.  Larochel,  Secretary  of 
State  for  Public  Instruction,  etc.,  appeared,  and  pre 
sided  on  the  occasion.  The  whole  Board  of  Educa 
tion,  with  the  Council  des  Notables,  were  all  officially 
present. 

The  proceedings  were  commenced  by  singing,  ac 
cording  to  the  usages  of  the  school,  which  on  this 
occasion  was  accompanied  by  various  instruments  of 
music,  several  amateurs  of  the  capital  having  volun 
teered  their  services,  as  an  expression  of  good- will 
towards  the  institution.  At  the  conclusion  of  this 
sacred  but  hearty  song,  prayer  was  offered  by  the 
Missionary. 

The  chairman  then  explained  to  a  numerous  and 
respectable  meeting  the  object  in  view,  warmly  con 
gratulating,  at  the  same  time,  the  friends  and  sup 
porters  of  this  institution,  on  their  success.  The 
chairman  in  his  remarks  also  spoke  feelingly  and 
encouragingly  of  those  who  had  left  their  homes  for 
the  good  of  humanity. 

This  esteemed  Secretary  of  State,  having  concluded 
a  speech  which  was  an  honor  both  to  himself  and  his 
position,  and  yet  more  so,  considering  him  a  true 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES,  277 

representative  of  the  progeny  of  Ham,  as  he  really 
and  literally  was,  the  edifice  was  formally  dedicated 
to  its  great  purpose  by  the  pastor  of  the  Methodist 
Church  of  Fort  au  Prince,  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

The  principles,  aims,  and  object  of  the  institution 
were  then  explained  by  the  Missionary  then  residing 
at  the  capital.  Several  others  spoke  on  the  occasion, 
some  of  whom  were  members  of  the  bar,  all  show 
ing  great  warmth  and  animation.  One,  a  distin 
guished  lawyer,  declared  that  he  felt  himself  bound 
by  love  to  his  country  to  be  present  on  that  occasion. 
He  was  convinced  that  education,  founded  upon  gen 
uine  Christianity,  was  vital  to  the  prosperity  of  Hayti.* 

It  was  then  announced  to  the  meeting  by  the  Mis 
sionary,  that  a  small  debt  remained,  which  he  had 
no  doubt  would  soon  be  effaced.  The  National 
Hymn  which  had  been  composed  for  the  institution, 
was  then  sung  to  the  national  air  of  England,  all 
being  terminated  by  prayer. 

It  should  not  be  forgotten  that  the  speakers  on 
this  occasion,  as  well  as  the  meeting  itself,  consisted 
principally  of  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  com 
munion  ;  nor  should  it  be  overlooked  that  the  Wes- 
leyan  school  was  not  proposed  and  thus  encouraged, 
because  of  any  dearth  of  schools  of  the  above-named 
communion ;  in  fact,  their  aim  was  the  education 
of  the  masses,  and  certainly  great  efforts  were  made 
for  it.  This  institution,  therefore,  was  patronized  and 
encouraged  from  purely  liberal  principles  and  mo 
tives,  as  well  as  from  an  entire  confidence,  both  on 
the  part  of  the  Government  and  people,  in  the  Wes- 

*  Durnai  L'Espinasse. 


278  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

ley  an  Mission.  It  was  doubtless  a  national  feeling 
at  this  time,  peculiar  probably  to  Roman  Catholic 
Hayti,  to  give  free  scope  to  evangelical  churches, 
both  of  America  and  Europe  ;  and  yet  indiffer 
ence,  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic,  to  a  Roman 
Catholic  country  thus  entirely  open  to  the  truth  of 
Christ,  is  an  astonishing  fact.  An  utter  indifference 
seems  everywhere  to  have  reigned  at  this  time  to 
wards  Hayti. 

It  is  true  we  shall  have  to  speak  of  dark  imperial 
days  in  Hayti ;  but  the  fact  referred  to  will  ever  be 
a  reproach  to  all  who  have  ever  professed  a  sincere 
Christian  desire  for  the  real  welfare  of  Hayti,  and 
who  unquestionably  at  that  time  had  it  in  their  pow 
er  to  place  her  in  the  way  to  all  they  might  them 
selves  have  wished — but  they  did  not. 

With  regard,  however,  to  this  school,  it  became 
ultimately  necessary  to  make  it  partly  paying,  meet 
ing  its  deficiencies  by  voluntary  subscriptions,  wher 
ever  they  could  be  obtained.  In  fact,  it  was  finally 
thrown  open  to  the  entire  Republic,  as  a  boarding 
school,  giving  up  for  the  present  the  girl's  depart 
ment,  with  the  hope  of  undertaking  the  great  work 
of  female  education  at  a  future  day,  upon  a  scale  and 
in  a  style  which  should  be  worthy  of  its  vast  impor 
tance  ;  and  it  is  worthy  of  notice  here  that  a  special 
effort  for  this  great  purpose  was  finally  made,  in  the 
United  States,  and  also  in  Europe ;  but  it  is  to  be 
deplored  that  neither  American  nor  English  Chris 
tians,  although  both  called  upon  in  behalf  of  this 
deeply  interesting  and  important  undertaking,  by 
both  public  and  private  appeals,  came  up  to  complete 
this  great  work. 


FKOM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  279 

It  is  only  due  to  the  feelings  and  motives  in  which 
the  public  Wesley  an  School  at  Port  au  Prince  origi 
nated,  to  record  here  that  moral  culture  was  the 
thing  in  view,  on  the  part  of  the  Haytian  officials 
who  had  proposed  it,  and  that  the  conviction  of  its 
great  and  indispensable  necessity  was  certainly  one 
of  the  peculiar  features  in  the  great  movement  of 
181^  ;  nor  is  this  fact  at  all  lessened  by  the  unhappy 
contrary  one  of  its  utter  failure,  in  a  national  sense. 
In  fact,  there  have  ever  been  Haytians  who  have  seen 
and  felt  the  truth  that  it  wras  the  moral  element  of 
their  country  which  was  at  fault,  and  although  they 
have  been  overwhelmed  by  the  great  tide  of  human 
depravity,  these  convictions  still  exist,  and  must  ulti 
mately  prevail. 


CHAPTER    X 

Richc  arrives  at  Cayes.—  His  proclamation.— He  returns  to  the 
Capital. — The  half-pay  measure. — Death  of  Rich6. — Soulouque 
President. — IGth  of  April,  1848. — Soulouque  leaves  for  the  Span 
ish  part.— J.  T.  Hartwell  builds  at  the  Cape. — Faustian  the  L — 
M.  B.  Bird's  memento  to  the  Government. — Jeremie  Wesleyau 
Church  finished  by  C.  H.  Bishop. — Opened  by  M.  B.  Bird.— 
A.  Folsom,  Esq., — Final  Coronation. — Cannibalism. — Another 
march  to  the  East. — Midnight  Imperial  entry  to  Port  au  Prince. 
Dr.  Smith's  Pamphlet.— Science  needful  in  Education. 


Th'  ancient  Hebrews,  daring  heav'n,  chose  a  crown, 

And  found  the  warnings  of  its  despotism 

True. 

PRESIDENT  Riclie  entered  the  city  of  Cayes  on  the 
4th  of  July,  184:0,  and  from  this  Southern  part  o  fthe 
Eepublic  he  issued  a  proclamation,  in  which  he 
speaks  freely  of  the  object  of  his  official  tour,  which 
was  nothing  less  than  to  subdue  a  revolt  which,  had 
been  occasioned  by  a  few  misguided  individuals. 

The  ringleader  of  this  unhappy  affair  is  said  to 
have  shot  himself;  a  miserable  event,  which  pro 
bably  put  an  end  to  further  blood-shed. 

A  passage  in  the  proclamation  referred  to,  wui 
show  the  spirit  of  the  Government  ruling  the  nation 
at  that  time,  and  is  specially  worthy  of  attention  : 

"Financial  reforms  will  not  suffice;  we  must  have  more 
than  this.  It  is  now  time  to  make  the  foundation  of  our  In 
stitutions  sure  and  solid ;  I  shall  not  therefore  delay  revising 
the  Constitution  of  1816,  in  order  that  we  may  be  in  harmony 
with  the  leading  ideas  of  the  present  age  ;  by  which  means  we 


FROM   HISTORICAL  NOTES.  281 

shall  be  able  to  labor  unitedly,  in  bringing  our  unhappy  coun 
try  out  of  the  difficulties  into  -which  it  has  been  plunged,  by 
various  tumults  and  divisions  which  have  distracted  it. 

Soldiers  I  and  companions  in  arms,  be  faithful  to  your  stan 
dards  ;  the  moment  is  not  far  off  when  peace  shall  be  the 
reward  of  our  toils." 

It  is  true  this  was  not  a  civilian  speech  to  the  na 
tion,  nor  has  it  either  the  air  or  tone  of  genuine 
Republicanism  ;  but  it  is  the  national  address  of  a 
man  whom  circumstances  had  raised  to  military 
power,  but  who  is  disposed  to  use  it  in  promoting,  to 
the  best  of  his  knowledge,  the  real  interests  of  his 
country. 

At  this  time,  the  country  was  indeed  alternating 
between  hope  and  fear,  in  all  its  interests  and  Insti 
tutions  ;  but  there  were  well  meaning  men  at  the 
helm  of  affairs,  during  this  time  of  trial,  and  the 
President  had  at  heart  to  show  himself  worthy  of 
his  high  responsibility,  as  Chief  Magistrate  of  the 
nation. 

The  official  circulars  were,  about  this  time,  singu 
larly  mild  and  prudent;  but  by  the  side  of  the 
greatest  good,  is  not  unfrequently  found  lurking 
evil,  a  truth  strangely  applicable  to  all  Haytian 
political  affairs.  Hence,  with  all  the  good  inten 
tions,  good  theories,  and  good  principles  which  may 
be  seen  even  to  abound  in  the  Institutions  of  the 
country,  as  well  as  the  Government  proclamations 
&c.,  disappointment  has  long  seemed  to  attend 
everything  in  Hayti ;  nor  can  this  be  any  matter  of 
surprise,  the  soul  and  spirit  of  the  nation  never 
yet  having  been  strung  up,  even  to  the  principles 
and  theories  of  its  own  adoption. 


282  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

In  seizing  their  liberties,  the  Haytians  had  indeed 
been  men,  but  with  regard  to  their  right  use,  by  the 
fair  and  free  working  of  righteous  laws,  this  required 
much  more  than  merely  the  indignation  which 
brought  down  slavery;  bursts  of  fury  did  the  one, 
but  time  and  sound  sense  alone  can  do  the  other. 
Meantime,  it  may  well  be  expected  that  many  an 
error  will  be  committed,  and  that  many  a  mortifying 
failure  will  be  realized  ;  hence  the  failure  of  the 
greatly  needed  school  of  navigation,  &c.,  &c.. 

The  cultivation  of  the  sciences,  although  fre 
quently  attempted,  and  a  great  variety  of  apparatus 
procured  at  an  immense  expense  for  that  purpose, 
with  the  fullest  conviction  of  the  boundless  resources 
which  they  would  open  in  Hayti,  yet  has  never  been 
persevered  in.  It  may  be  said  that  all  this  is  un 
worthy,  as  indeed  it  is,  but  we  have  only  to  bear  in 
mind  that  a  sudden  leap  from  childhood  to  manhood 
is  impossible ;  with  this  simple  fact  before  us,  we 
have  explained  the  whole  case  of  Hayti  as  a  nation, 
and  notwithstanding  she  has  not  satisfied  either  her 
self  or  her  friends,  the  fact  remains,  that  her  true  ele 
ment  and  dignity  are  found  in  her  independence. 

"Want  of  progress,  therefore,  in  the  Haytian 
people,  has  not  originated  in  want  of  capacity  or 
intelligence,  as  may  be  seen  in  what  has  already 
been  detailed,  as  to  national  documents,  plans,  theo 
ries,  &c.,  &c.,  but  rather  in  the  absence  of  that 
moral  culture,  which,  apart  from  creeds,  has  God 
himself  for  its  element  and  object,  and  breathes  that 
energy  which  alone  can  lead  to  the  final  accomplish 
ment  of  great  enterprises,  whether  national  or  in 
dividual. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  283 

Towards  the  latter  end  of  August,  1846,  President 
Riehe  returned  from  his  tour  in  the  South,  and  was 
welcomed  to  the  Capital  with  very  great  joy. 

The  details  of  this  tour,  some  of  which  in  refer 
ence  to  the  suppression  of  the  revolt,  which  was 
completely  put  down,  would  be  painful  in  the  ex 
treme,  must  for  the  present  be  left  to  the  future 
historian  of  Hayti.  It  should  be  noted,  however, 
that  whatever  blood  was  shed  in  the  putting  down 
the  wild  and  senseless  Acaau  in  the  South,  delivered 
that  part  of  the  Island  from  a  reign  of  terror,  and  es 
tablished  peace  and  quiet  throughout  the  rest  of  the 
nation. 

It  should  be  mentioned,  that  these  official  tours 
through  the  country,  by  the  Chief  Magistrate,  are 
generally  both  formal  and  formidable.  On  such  oc 
casions  the  President  is  generally  accompanied  by 
several  thousand  troops,  and  frequently  by  most  of 
the  chief  officers  of  State,  but  perhaps  the  most  sin 
gular  fact  connected  with  these  official  journeys,  is 
the  inadequacy  of  the  pay  of  the  private  soldier  for 
his  support.  How  these  armies  subsist,  is  frequently 
a  mystery,  nor  will  the  moral  bearing  of  the  case, 
during  a  public  march,  bear  much  inspection  as  to 
the  properties  on  the  road.  The  origin  of  this  evil, 
doubtless,  dates  from  the  very  birth  of  the  nation, 
when  every  soldier  lived  as  he  could ;  why  such  an 
evil  should  have  been  suffered,  in  any  degree,  to 
continue,  is  another  question.  If  there  must  be  an 
army  at  all,  a  small  and  thoroughly  efficient  one, 
serving  as  a  model  of  order  to  the  nation,  would  un 
questionably  be  more  desirable  than  a  large  one, 
unpaid,  unfed,  undisciplined,  and  unclad. 


284:  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

The  Government  of  Hayti,  after  this  military 
march  in  the  South,  pursued  its  course  in  remodel 
ing,  reforming,  and  correcting ;  in  fact,  the  general 
state  of  things  at  this  time  was  hopeful.  The  Gov 
ernment  was  mild,  and  aimed  at  the  progressive 
movement  of  the  nation,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  fol 
lowing  passage  found  in  an  official  circular,  dated 
September  28,  184:6,  addressed  to  the  Generals  in 
the  different  Arrondisements : 

"Enlighten  all  classes  of  the  citizens;  watch  with  attention 
the  general  movement ;  second  and  direct  it  towards  the  great 
object  we  wish  to  accomplish,  which  is  the  happiness  of  all.' 

One  of  the  measures  carried  out  by  this  Govern 
ment  about  this  time,  is  specially  worthy  of  attention. 
This  was  the  reduction  of  the  army  pay,  and  also  of 
all  other  employes,  to  one-half,  for  six  months ;  nor 
is  it  less  remarkable  that  this  was  submitted  to  with 
out  murmur,  while  it  told  most  salutarily  upon  the 
finances  of  the  nation. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  on  the  accession  to 
power  of  General  Riche,  it  was  stated  that  the  Con 
stitution  of  1816,  drawn  up  under  Petion,  was,  with 
certain  modifications,  to  form  the  groundwork  of  the 
present  Government ;  hence,  on  the  14th  of  Novem 
ber,  184:6,  the  principal  bodies  of  the  State,  com 
prising  the  Senators  and  the  Secretaries  of  State, 
met  for  this  important  work,  the  result  of  which  was 
ultimately  a  proclamation  from  the  President,  in 
which  the  following  remarks  will  be  found : 

"  Haytians !  the  pirnciples  of  amelioration  have  been  estab 
lished,  and  before  long  we  shall  doubtless  reap  the  fruit  thereof. 
I  now  again  call  upon  you  for  help,  in  the  accomplishment  of 


FKOM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  285 

this  great  work  so  happily  commenced,  and  I  am  sure  you  will 
support  me  in  endeavoring  to  give  something  like  certainty  to 
the  future  hopes  of  the  country.'' 

It  is  true,  the  Anglo-Saxon  would  rather  see  the 
full  and  free  operation  of  institutions  of  another  or 
der,  such  as  call  out  the  expression  of  the  people's 
will,  without  the  fear  of  tumult ;  but  Hayti  was 
never  formed  into  this  shape  of  existence — she  was 
never  put  upon  this  tack  :  her  Republicanism  has 
consisted  principally  in  the  absence  of  a  Crown. 
She  never  would  have  taken  birth  as  a  nation  but 
for  the  sword,  and  when  thus  started,  she  must  soon 
have  ceased  to  be,  had  she  not  lived  sword  in  hand. 
Her  case  was  unquestionably  peculiar,  hence  her 
course  has  been  so  also ;  she  therefore  inevitably  be 
came  military,  and  it  is  not  surprising,  however 
much  to  be  regretted,  that  she  remained  so.  In 
fact,  it  is  rather  surprising,  that  even  the  theory  of 
free  and  civil  institutions  should  have  found  admi 
rers  at  all  in  such  a  country ;  nor  will  anything  be 
more  easy  to  understand,  than  that  military  rule  and 
power  are  utterly  incompatible  with  free  and  civil 
institutions,  hence  all  the  struggles  of  Hayti.  Arms 
here  have  ever  been  struggling  with  reason,  and  even 
reason  herself  has  taken  up  her  own  enemy  in  self- 
defence,  and  strange  to  say,  has  even  become  mili 
tary,  until  "  confusion  worse  confounded'  has  been 
the  result. 

But  all  mortal  hopes  are  passing  and  uncertain. 
President  Riche,  from  whose  Government  so  much 
was  expected,  died  on  the  27th  of  February,  184:7, 
after  a  comparatively  short  illness  ;  his  Government 
had  begun  to  create  great  expectations,  and  to  in- 


286 

spire  confidence.  He  died  at  half-past  seven  on  the 
morning  of  the  date  mentioned,  and  in  less  than  two 
hours  after,  the  Senators  met  for  consultation  as  to  a 
successor. 

On  the  1st  of  March,  following  the  death  of  Presi- 
sident  Riche,  General  Faustin  Soulouque  was 
chosen  President  of  the  Republic  of  Hayti,  by  the 
Senate,  and  official  information  to  that  effect  was 
sent  to  the  chosen  General,  by  a  deputation  from 
that  body  ;  a  more  unsought,  or  less  expected  honor, 
was  perhaps  never  conferred  upon  any  man. 

The  election  of  a  President  by  universal  suffrage, 
appears  to  be  a  thing  greatly  dreaded  in  Hayti ; 
notwithstanding  all  the  reigning  love  of  Republican 
ism,  the  fear  seems  to  be,  the  tumult  of  a  people 
untrained  to  the  habit  of  a  free  expression  of  opinion 
on  great  national  questions,  and  in  fact,  there  is 
truth  in  this.  Yet,  whether  the  tumult  dreaded, 
would  in  this  case  have  involved  more  bloodshed, 
confusion,  and  shame,  than  what  really  resulted  from 
the  present  choice,  made  only  by  a  few  men,  will  be 
for  the  present  and  future  generations  to  judge,  or 
whether  it  might  not  have  saved  the  nation  a  retro 
grade  movement,  which  cost  it  immense  loss  and 
suffering,  to  have  allowed  the  free  voice  of  the  na 
tion  in  the  selection  of  the  Executive. 

In  presenting  a  man  before  the  people  for  elec 
tion,  as  President  of  the  Republic,  the  national 
honor  would  render  it  impossible  that  he  should  be 
in  any  way  incompetent,  while  the  very  struggle  of 
the  nation — well  managed — would  be  educational  in 
its  effect.  It  is  true,  the  elements  of  party  feeling, 
in  a  nation  which  is  made  up  of  every  shade  and  hue 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  287 

of  complexion,  may  be  more  numerous  and  compli 
cated  than  elsewhere,  but  there  is  no  color  among 
men  which  does  not  admire  fair  play ;  nor  could,  nor 
would,  there  be  so  much  to  fear  from  open  and 
straight-forward  work,  in  the  choice  of  a  Chief  Ma 
gistrate,  by  a  whole  nation,  as  from  the  limited  and 
timid  judgment  of  a  few  in  such  a  matter,  even 
though  they  might  be  perfectly  honest  in  their  choice 
and  decision. 

From  the  sketches  already  given  in  these  pages  of 
the  past  history  of  this  country,  it  will  be  seen,  that 
from  the  beginning  numberless  causes  had  been  at 
work,  and  powerfully  contributed  to  sow  largely  the 
seeds  of  every  kind  and  degree  of  discord,  and  to  set 
fire  to  the  evil  passions  of  our  nature. 

To  the  man  of  really  Christian  views  and  feelings, 
it  would  doubtless  be  painfully  edifying  to  trace  out 
the  root  and  origin  of  these  fearful  passions,  which 
broke  out  in  Hayti  about  this  time,  although  to  do 
this  perfectly,  would  be  beyond  any  mortal  pen. 

Party  feeling  on  the  unhappy  question  of  color, 
was  one  prominent  feature  in  the  national  convul 
sions  of  this  time;  jealousy  of  power  rose  high,  be 
tween  the  two  great  divisions  of  the  nation,  and  it 
will  not  be  surprising  that  numerical  power  should, 
in  this  case,  have  been  on  the  side  of  ignorance. 
These  leading  facts  may,  perhaps,  partly  help  to  the 
right  understanding  of  all  that  followed. 

It  is  by  no  means  intended  here,  to  enter  into  the 
details  of  these  matters,  from  which  such  fearful  con 
vulsions  resulted ;  suffice  it  to  say  for  the  present, 
that  in  all  public  quarrels,  more  or  less  error  will 
generally  be  found  on  all  sides,  and  that  while  mu- 


288  HAITIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

tual  recognition  of  imprudence  would  be  much  in 
accordance  with  the  general  fallibleness  of  human 
nature,  it  would  also  lead  to  a  manly  conciliation  of 
public  feeling,  as  well  as  the  ultimate  consolidation 
of  the  national  interests,  while  contention  as  to  the 
side  of  right  or  wrong  would  be  useless,  not  to"*  say, 
in  such  a  case,  pernicious. 

The  details  of  the  disastrous  events  of  1848,  which 
marked  the  beginning  of  the  power  of  General 
Soulouque,  will  doubtless  one  day  be  brought  out, 
if  not  by  those  who  mingled  in  these  fearful  scenes, 
at  least  by  those  who  will  have  received  the  facts 
from  eye  witnesses,  but  this  cannot  be,  until  all  mere 
passion  upon  the  subject  is  extinguished.  A  shade 
might  well  be  thrown  over  this  dark  period  of  Hay- 
tian  history,  but  these  lessons  of  the  past  point  out 
those  fearful  rocks  upon  which  nations  sometimes 
dash  and  wreck,  serving  as  warnings  for  an  erring 
future. 

Nevertheless,  the  event  of  the  16th  of  April  of 
this  year  is  too  national  in  its  character,  and  too  im 
portant  in  its  bearing,  to  remain  utterly  unnoticed. 
Party  feeling  of  every  kind,  relating  to  class  and 
politics,  which  had  now  long  agitated  the  nation,  on 
this  memorable  day  broke  forth  ;  hence  on  the  morn 
ing  of  this  Sabbath  day,  the  army,  having  met  at 
the  national  Palace  in  the  Capital,  as  usual,  several 
of  the  foreign  Consuls  being  also  present,  one  of  the 
military  conflicting  parties  outside,  now  evidently 
wrought  up  to  a  climax  of  passion,  fired  a  volley  of 
ball  cartridge,  into  the  crowded  assembly  inside, 
killing  some  and  wounding  others.  This  somewhat 
mysterious  event  was  followed,  some  few  hours  after- 


FROM    HISTORICAL  NOTES.  289 

wards,  by  the  meeting  of  other  armed  parties  at  the 
seaside,  one  of  which  consisted  of  Government 
troops,  the  other  of  citizens,  partly  armed ;  to  the 
latter,  orders  were  given  to  disperse,  but  not  obeying 
promptly  they  were  fired  upon,  and  many  left  dead 
on  the  spot,  such  was  the  strife  and  bitterness  of  the 
moment. 

Many  fell  on  this  memorable  day  ;  some  were 
shot,  as  at  the  Palace,  when  danger  was  not  dreamed 
of,  others  were  fired  upon  by  the  military  authori 
ties,  because  they  were  in  arms  against  the  Govern 
ment,  while  others  were  shot,  untried,  yet  in  the 
name  of  summary  martial  law.  In  fact,  the  present 
moment  seemed  to  be  chaos  itself,  let  loose  on  a 
work  of  desolation,  which  ultimately  spread  through 
the  whole  nation. 

The  journal  of  the  Wesleyan  Missionary,  then 
residing  at  Port  au  Prince,  contains  the  following 
remarkable  notes  on  this  event : 

"  SUNDAY,  April  16, 1848.— We  were  sitting  at  home,  when 
suddenly  the  sound  of  a  volley  of  musketry,  evidently  at  the 
Palace,  to  which  we  were  pretty  near,  struck  us  with  terror. 
In  a  moment  the  whole  city  was  in  consternation,  and  for  a  long 
time  there  was  no  reply  to  the  question,  What  was  the  matter  ? 

"  Dreading  a  general  conflict,  of  which  we  had  heard  for  a 
long  time  prophetically,  I  immediately  resolved  on  placing  my 
family  on  board  some  vessel  in  the  harbor,  which  was  soon 
done,  and  I  left  them,  being  necessitated  to  do  so :  but  to  return 
again  to  the  ship,  although  in  the  harbor,  that  night,  was  im 
possible.  A  conflict  at  the  sea-side,  and  precisely  at  the  place 
of  embarkation,  had  taken  place.  No  one  dared  to  stir,  reports 
of  pistols  being  heard  every  now  and  then.  My  family  and  my 
self  were  therefore  separated  during  that  dismal  night,  and  in  fact 
repose  was  perfectly  out  of  the  question;  I  however  had  taken 
refuge  myself  at  the  Swedish  Consulate,  which  was  near  the 


290  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

sea.  In  the  morning  at  day-light,  we  saw  from  the  gallery 
where  we  were  standing  several  brought  down  for  summary 
military  execution.  Three  of  these  unhappy  men  came  under 
our  special  notice,  neither  of  whom  were  pinioned  ;  and  arriving 
near  the  place  of  execution,  which  was  close  by  us,  the  three 
ran ;  one  escaping  down  the  street,  was  pursued  and  shot ; 
another  running  into  the  English  Consulate,  which  was  just  op 
posite  to  where  we  were  standing,  was  protected  under  the 
British  flag ;  but  the  third  running  towards  the  house  where  I 
spent  the  night,  was  overtaken  by  his  pursuing  guards  at  the 
gate,  where  the  sight  of  his  death,  which  took  place  before  our 
eyes,  and  which  involved  a  horrid  use  of  the  sword  and  also 
some  dozen  balls  which  were  sent  through  him,  turned  me 
sick. 

"  At  last  I  ventured  out,  accompanied  by  a  friend,  and  crossed 
the  place  of  last  evening's  conflict,  where  some  eighteen  or 
twenty  dead  were  still  lying  on  the  ground  in  their  gore.  Here, 
taking  a  boat,  I  at  last  reached  my  anxious  family,  which  had 
spent  the  night  in  great  uncertainty  about  me.  I  found  them 
safe,  but  not  without  having  been  in  danger.  The  contest  at 
the  sea-side,  the  previous  evening,  had  very  naturally  attracted 
the  attention  of  Mrs.  Bird,  who,  without  any  idea  of  danger, 
looked  on  from  the  vessel  where  she  was  standing,  until  our  old 
nurse,  who  had  been  more  accustomed  to  the  sound  of  flying 
balls,  reminded  her  that  shots  were  darting  in  all  directions 
through  the  rigging,  etc.,  and  begged  her  to  lay  down  on  the 
deck,  by  which  means  she  probably  saved  her  life." 

On  this  matter,  as  a  whole,  there  is  indeed  much 
to  be  said.  If  it  be  easier  to  prevent  national  evils 
than  to  cure  them,  then  we  shall  be  driven  back  in 
this  case  also  to  the  great  question  of  Primary  Chris 
tian  Education.  Again  we  say,  and  never  shall  we 
cease  to  say,  that  had  such  been  afforded  to  the 
masses  of  Hayti,  and  earnestly  carried  out,  from  1804 
to  the  year  now  before  us,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that 
the  scenes  of  blood  which  so  painfully  distinguished 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  291 

the  early  part  of  President  Soulouque's  power  would 
never  have  taken  place  ;  nor  can  wars  or  revolutions 
or  any  other  difficulty  ever  justify,  or  in  the  slightest 
degree  excuse,  the  fact  that  this  was  never  attempted 
with  any  serious  and  conscientious  resolution  to  drive 
it  through,  so  that  not  a  child  in  the  Republic  should 
be  left  in  ignorance.  In  fact,  under  such  circum 
stances,  the  nation  never  would  have  been  confided 
to  a  man  whose  advantages  of  education,  Christian 
or  otherwise,  were  utterly  inadequate  to  the  post  he 
was  called  to  occupy. 

Doubtless,  vital  error  has  been  persisted  in  on  this 
great  subject  of  universal  primary  education  of  the 
educated  classes  of  Hayti.  It  has  not  been  under 
stood  that  this  is  the  true  source  of  universal  develop 
ment  in  every  conceivable  sense,  that  a  laboring  man 
at  the  plough,  with  a  little  knowledge,  is  worth  more 
as  such,  to  himself,  his  family,  and  his  country,  than 
it'  he  were  in  total  ignorance. 

Happy  will  it  be  for  Hayti,  if  her  own  errors,  at 
last,  should  have  the  effect  of  opening  her  eyes  to 
the  fact,  that  genuine  honesty,  which  is  not  afraid  of 
universal  light,  through  all  her  administrations  is  all 
she  needs  to  have  peace  and  security,  but  without 
which  she  may  tear  herself  to  pieces. 

The  spectacle  of  a  nation  rent  and  torn  by  intestine 
commotions  and  mutual  recriminations,  is  indeed  a 
sad  one ;  but  grief  and  sadness  was  now,  for  a  short 
time,  the  unhappy  portion  of  the  Haytian  people, 
and  many  a  sorrowing  heart  at  that  time  sought  con 
solation  and  relief  by  seeking  God  ;  some,  doubtless, 
sought  him  sincerely  in  the  national  Church,  while 
others  devoutly  sought  the  mercy  of  Heaven,  both 


292  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

for  themselves  and  their  afflicted  country,  "  an 
Temple  Protestant."  Hence,  the  latter  place,  at  this 
time,  began  to  be  crowded,  and  the  symptoms  of  a 
religious  movement  were  unmistakable;  in  fact,  it 
seemed  highly  probable  that  the  Wesleyan  Church 
at  Port  au  Prince  would  soon  need  enlarging,  a  cir 
cumstance  which  could  not  be  looked  upon  with  in 
difference  by  those  who  saw  no  salvation  out  of  the 
pale  of  the  Church  of  Home.  In  the  estimation  of 
such,  this  was  one  of  the  most  alarming  indications 
of  the  then  state  of  things  ;  in  fact  it  was  viewed  by 
such  as  a  fearful  omen  that  Ilayti  was  on  the  high 
road  to  ruin,  and  Protestantism  was  considered  as 
incompatible  with  the  safety  and  stability  of  the 
nation.  Hence,  from  the  Cathedral  pulpit  loud 
thunders  were  heard  warning  against  the  dangers  of 
the  day,  to  which  many,  in  listening,  were  set  upon 
inquiring  whether  this  was  really  the  spirit  of  Christ  ? 
Some  too,  by  this  means,  were  induced  to  go  and  see 
for  themselves  whether  Luther  really  had  a  cloven 
foot,  as  it  seemed  to  be  reported  he  had  ;  but  finding 
that  such  was  not  the  case,  did  not  hesitate  to  walk 
openly  with  him. 

The  march  of  Christian  truth,  apart  from  Rome, 
by  these  frowns  from  high  quarters,  received  a  mo 
mentary  check,  but  the  blow  was  reserved  for  a 
future  day.  It  is  indeed  true,  that  such  blows  and 
shocks  are  more  injurious,  ultimately,  to  those  who 
inflict  them  than  to  those  on  whom  they  are  inflicted ; 
the  smitten  pile  sinks  deeper  and  becomes  firmer  be 
neath  each  blow ;  such,  too,  is  the  case  with  eternal 
truth.  But  the  common  sense  of  mankind  has  long 
seen  the  utter  impolicy  of  religious  persecution,  in 


FROM    HISTORICAL  NOTES.  293 

any  form  or  shape.  The  llaytian  character,  how 
ever,  is  not  intolerant  in  religious  matters,  as  will 
be  seen  in  the  fact  that  the  "VVesleyan  Missionary, 
then  residing  at  Port  au  Prince,  was  allowed  to 
preach  in  the  public  streets  of  that  city,  as  in  fact  at 
that  time  he  frequently  did,  —  a  liberty  perhaps 
never  allowed  before  to  a  Protestant  Minister  in  the 
capital  of  a  Roman  Catholic  country.  In  fact  it  is 
highly  probable  that  Methodism,  under  Soulouque, 
never  would  have  suffered  violence  of  any  kind  had 
not  the  idea  been  set  to  work  by  those  who  pre 
tended  to  superior  knowledge,  and  taught  unblush- 
ingly  that  he  who  would  be  unfaithful  to  his  religion, 
as  a  Roman  Catholic,  might  also  and  consequently 
prove  unfaithful  to  his  Government.  Then  danger 
was  supposed  by  the  ruling  mind,  and  in  some  other 
cases  it  was  probably  feared,  with  even  sincerity.  It 
is  true  that  the  possibility  of  such  fears  at  all  would 
argue  no  small  amount  of  ignorance  ;  this,  however, 
was  not  the  fault  of  the  ruling  power  of  the  day  ;  in 
such  a  case  the  fault  was  with  those  who,  knowingly, 
had  chosen  ignorance  as  their  national  head,  rather 
than  knowledge. 

During  the  year  1849,  another  act  of  folly  was 
committed  by  this  already  unhappy  Government, 
which  consisted  in  a  fruitless  effort,  either  to  con 
quer  or  win  over  the  Spanish  part  of  the  island, 
which  had  revolted  under  the  Government  of  Riviere. 
Hence,  on  the  6th  of  March,  President  Soulouque 
left  his  capital  with  a  considerable  military  force 
for  the  Spanish  frontiers.  Something  like  secrecy 
was  attempted  at  first  as  to  the  real  object  of  this 
great  movement,  but  little  therefore  was  known  of 


294:  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

the  army  until  their  return,  except  that  on  the  24th 
it  was  announced,  at  the  sound  of  the  drum,  which  is 
the  usual  way  in  Hayti  of  making  Government  pro 
clamations,  that  a  victory  had  been  gained  over 
the  Spaniards ;  and  on  another  occasion  it  was 
vaunted  by  a  few  partizans  of  the  Government  that 
the  Haytian  flag  was  now  flying  on  the  walls  of  Santo 
Domingo !  All,  however,  was  cleared  up  on  the  6th 
of  May  following,  when,  between  seven  and  eight 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  President  entered  Port 
au  Prince  amidst  a  great  roar  of  cannon  and  other 
military  noise,  which  might  with  great  propriety 
have  been  spared,  for  we  soon  learnt  that  the  whole 
enterprise  had  been  a  most  disastrous  affair,  the  en 
tire  army  having  been  nearly  surrounded  at  what  is 
called  Dessalines'  Pass,  from  whence  the  President 
himself  and  his  men  had  to  fly  in  great  haste,  after 
having  suffered  almost  starvation  for  five  or  six  days 
in  this  fearful  mountain  ravine,  where  the  very 
sandals  of  the  men.  became  food,  and  some  being 
reduced  to  such  a  state  of  weakness  as  to  be  scarcely 
able  to  bear  the  weight  of  their  own  arms. 

Thus,  alas !  have  the  unhappy  masses  of  mankind 
often  suffered  for  the  ambition  of  a  few.  Hence, 
light  and  knowledge  diffused  through  and  possessed 
by  the  entire  people,  constitute  the  true  defence  of 
their  liberties. 

Great  and  gigantic  struggles  were  now  going  on 
in  Hayti.  Now  and  then  the  whole  nation  would 
seera  to  heave  with  convulsive  throws,  as  though  de 
termined  to  throw  off  some  fearful  weight  of  oppres 
sion  ;  but  all  was  useless,  and  he  who  was  discovered 
in  his  daring  attempt  to  disturb  the  public  peace 


FROM   HISTORICAL  NOTES.  295 

by  proposals  in  any  form  of  revolt,  was  tried  and 
shot. 

It  is  however  pleasing,  in  the  midst  of  these  pain 
ful  scenes,  to  be  able  to  recognize  the  silent  meander- 
ings  of  the  river  of  life  ;  hence,  we  pause  to  contem 
plate  the  unostentatious  success  of  the  "Wesleyan 
Missionary,  J.  T.  Hartwell,  at  Cape  Haytien,  who, 
in  the  midst  of  great  difficulties  as  to  the  creation  of 
funds,  succeeded  in  completing  the  erection  of  a  church 
and  mission-house ;  the  former  of  which  was  opened 
about  this  time.  His  fellow  -  laborer  at  Port  an 
Prince  was  to  have  dedicated  this  house  of  God  to 
its  sacred  purposes,  but  was  prevented  by  indisposi 
tion.* 

Thus,  amidst  the  ruins  of  the  fallen  Cape,  where 
but  a  short  time  previously  all  had  appeared  barren 
and  discouraging,  the  seeds  of  Christian  truth,  by 
the  instrumentality  of  the  zealous  and  judicious 
Missionary  on  that  station,  had  taken  root,  and  some 
had  began  to  love  and  serve  their  God  in  earnest. 

The  Wesleyan  Mission,  or  rather  Protestant  Evan 
gelical  truth,  at  Cape  Haytien,  owes  much  to  the 
persevering  and  intelligent  zeal  of  the  Rev.  J.  T. 
Hartwell.  The  utmost  efforts  of  Soulouque's  Govern 
ment,  on  his  arrival  at  power,  were  made  against  this 
Mission.  The  President  wished  to  withdraw  or 
annul  the  lease  which  had  been  given  on  these  pre 
mises  by  the  preceding  Government ;  but  the  wise 
and  resolute  attitude  of  this  worthy  Missionary  ulti 
mately  triumphed. 

*  A  good  school-house  -was  subsequently  added  to  those  really 
eligible  premises  by  the  Rev.  C.  H.  Bishop,  whose  useful  labors 
will  not  be  forgotten  on  this  station. 


296  HAYTTAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

But  another  phase  of  Haytian  civilization  was 
about  to  appear.  It  was  thought  that,  considering 
the  almost  chaotic  state  of  things,  some  great  na 
tional  diversion  of  thought  from  the  sad  scenes  which 
had  afflicted  all  might  prove  salutary.  These  at 
least  were  the  specious  reasonings  of  the  day ;  but 
doubtless,  pride  and  vanity  were  no  small  powers  in 
changing  the  Republic  of  Hayti  into  an  empire  ! 
This  astonishing  change  took  place  on  the  26th  of 
August,  1849,  when  the  President  and  his  lady  were 
temporarily  crowned  in  the  cathedral  of  Port  an 
Prince,  and  the  reign  of  the  dynasty  of  Faustin  the  I. 
commenced. 

The  sceptre  of  despotism  is  indeed  an  iron  one,  as 
the  sequel  of  this  strange  metamorphose  will  show. 
The  great  afflictions  of  the  nation  had  nevertheless,  as 
we  have  seen,  turned  some  thoughts  to  God,  who, 
in  some  cases,  was  sought  through  the  medium  of 
Protestantism,  which  in — now  imperial  eyes — was  a 
crime,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  following  extract  of 
the  "YVesleyan  Missionary,  at  that  time  stationed  at 
Port  au  Prince : 

"  SUNDAY,  March  24th,  1850. 

u  To-day,  the  Government  having  ordered  a  general  recruiting 
for  the  army,  the  whole  city  was  in  unusual  movement. 

"  During  the  morning  service,  at  which  our  esteemed  native 
Missionary  Heureaux  had  officiated,  a  body  of  armed  police 
was  observed  to  surround  the  church,  and  as  it  subsequently 
appeared,  with  orders  to  seize  each  young  Haytian  on  going 
out.  Some  nine  or  ten  were  thus  unceremoniously  seized  and 
conducted  to  'La  Place.'  The  young  native  minister  just 
named,  was  met  as  he  descended  from  the  pulpit,  by  the  police 
men  who  had  come  into  the  church  for  that  purpose,  and  led 
off  as  their  prisoner. 


FKOM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  297 

"  On  arriving  at  'La  Place'  myself,  I  was  told  by  the  Gov 
ernor,  that  I  had  no  voice  in  this  matter ;  but  I  persisted  in  de 
claring  that  the  young  man  Heureaux  was  a  Minister  of  the 
Gospel,  and  that  he  was  my  colleague.  The  Governor  of  the 
city,  evidently  pleased  that  I  had  no  more  than  that  to  say, 
simply  replied  '  Then  take  him  away  with  you  !  "  "With  regard 
to  the  others,  as  a  foreigner  I  could  do  nothing,  but  was  com 
pelled  to  see  them  walked  oft',  like  so  many  criminals.  The 
simple  fact  that  they  were  treated  as  prisoners,  when  they  ar- 
arived  on  board  the  men-of-war,  to  which  they  were  sent — 
not  as  sailors— and  told  that  they  would  have  to  learn  what  it 
was  to  change  their  religion,  will  show  the  nature  of  the  case. 
Such  was  priestly  power  over  weak  imperial  minds." 

This  was  a  heavy  stroke  ;  it  is  however  but  just  to 
observe,  that  it  was  not  at  all  the  spirit  of  the  Hay- 
tian  people.  European  inquisitorial  bigotry  was 
behind  the  scenes. 

The  moment  had  now  arrived  when  an  effort  of 
some  sort  should  be  made  in  favor  of  religious  lib 
erty.  A  memorial  was  therefore  got  up,  on  the 
general  question,  addressed  to  one  of  the  Secretaries 
of  State,  and  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy,  as  it 
subsequently  appeared  in  the  "Wesleyan  Missionary 

notices. 

"  POET  AU  PRIXCE,  June  19,  1851. 

"  MY  LORD: — Being  persuaded  that  a  full  and  free  expression 
on  the  subject  of  religious  liberty,  cannot  be  offensive  to  a  Gov 
ernment  which  has  avowed  itself  to  be  the  friend  of  toleration ; 
I  take  the  liberty  as  the  friend  of  humanity,  to  address  a  few 
remarks  to  you  on  that  subject. 

"  We  only  ask  for  the  extension  of  virtue  and  Christian 
knowledge,  the  same  liberty  which  is  accorded  to  many  things 
which  are  pernicious  to  society,  such  as  the  African  dances, 
which  can  have  no  other  effect  than  that  of  encouraging  super 
stition  and  vice,  and  of  diverting  the  attention  of  the  masses 
from  that  industry  which  is  essential  to  the  prosperity  of  the  na- 


298  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

tion.  "We  beg  that  Ministers  of  the  Gospel  may  have  the  same 
liberty  as  is  awarded  to  the  chiefs  and  queens  of  vicious  dances. 
Oh !  allow  the  light  of  celestial  truth  to  shine  upon  the  mass  of 
the  people  in  every  corner  of  the  empire. 

"  But  it  will,  perhaps,  be  said  that  the  religion  of  Christ  exists 
already  in  Hayti,  and  has  existed  for  a  long  time.  I  grant,  in 
deed,  that  the  symbols  of  Christianity,  either  in  wood,  or  gold, 
or  silver,  or  other  material,  have  long  been  known  in  Hayti ; 
but  the  Christian  Keligion,  anciently,  caused  the  idolatry  of 
Greece  and  Eome  to  disappear,  upon  the  same  principle  that 
light  and  darkness  cannot  blend ;  that  is  to  say,  that  error  and 
vice  have  always  fled  before  the  light  and  power  of  Christian 
truth  ;  but  what  shall  we  say  of  that  Christianity  which  leaves 
vice  and  error  entire  ? 

"  My  Lord,  I  have  traveled  through  nearly  the  whole  of  the 
French  part  of  Hayti,  but  alas!  what  have  I  seen?  I  have 
seen,  it  is  true,  a  mild,  docile,  and  very  hospitable  people,  and 
I  have  never  met  with  but  the  greatest  respect,  both  from  the 
authorities  of  the  country  and  from  the  people  generally  ;  but 
in  a  moral  point  of  view,  with  regard  to  Education  and  Civili 
zation,  general  information  and  knowledge,  I  have  not  been 
able  to  help  asking,  if  the  Christian  Religion  really  does  exist 
in  Ilayti,  where  are  its  fruits?  for  the  Gospel  was  never  really 
preached  any  where  without  producing  the  happiest  effects. 
"When,  therefore,  I  hear  it  said  that  the  Christian  Eeligion 
already  exists  in  Ilayti,  I  naturally  ask,  where  are  those  insti 
tutions  to  which  the  religion  of  the  Saviour  never  fails  to  give 
birth,  wherever  it  is  truly  seated  in  the  heart?  Where  are 
those  establishments  which  ought  to  adorn  the  plains  and 
mountains,  where  Christ  is  said  to  reign? — those  institutions 
where  the  faculties  and  capacities  of  the  rural  population  should 
be  developed,  and  where  the  general  habits  should  be  formed 
and  purified  ?  Where  is  the  noble  institution  of  the  Sabbath  ?* 
that  day  of  rest,  which  is  the  gift  of  heaven  to  mankind,  and 
so  much  needed  by  humanity  at  large  to  keep  up  the  remem 
brance  of  our  obligations  to  the  great  Creator,  and  to  cultivate 

*  The  public  markets  were,  at  this  time,  held  in  Hayti  on  the 
Sabbath  day. 


FKOM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  299 

the  religion  of  the  heart.  Yea,  ray  Lord,  if  the  Christian  Ee- 
ligion  really  exists  in  Hayti,  how  shall  we  account  for  the 
absence  of  those  things  which  it  cannot  but  produce,  wherever 
it  exists?  I  might  have  entered  much  more  into  detail,  and 
might  have  deplored  many  other  evils,  such  as  the  great  neglect 
of  marriage,  and  the  thousands  of  children  disavowed  by  their 
fathers,  and  who,  like  the  savages  of  Africa,  are  without  any 
thing  to  cover  their  nakedness ;  but  I  will  stop  here,  and  beg 
to  be  allowed  to  re-assure  your  Lordship  that  it  is  not  prose- 
lytism  that  the  Wesleyan  Communion  has  in  view  in  Hayti ; 
no,  this  Communion  offers  her  humble  services  to  the  friends  of 
humanity  of  every  nation,  to  help  in  arresting  the  progress  of 
vice ;  to  promote  the  general  and  universal  regeneration  of 
mankind,  and  lead  them  to  glory  and  immortality  by  means  of 
the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ,  which  it  is  desirable  should  be  es 
tablished  in  the  remotest  corners  of  every  country. 

"  The  order  of  nature  and  of  God,  both  in  the  moral  and  the 
intellectual  world,  is  progress  and  improvement ;  hence, 
thought  and  conscience  are  left  free,  and  God  has  given  to 
every  man  every  kind  of  liberty,  except  that  of  doing  evil.  Tie 
has  charged  the  Governments  of  the  world  with  the  care  of 
liberty,  the  maintenance  of  order,  and  the  chastisement  of  vice. 
Hence,  my  Lord,  while  we  are  thankful  to  the  Haytian  Gov 
ernment  for  that  measure  of  religious  liberty  which  is  accorded 
to  that  portion  of  the  human  family  which  is  committed  to  its 
care,  we  would  at  the  same  time  ask  that  religious  liberty,  that 
gift  of  heaven,  should  be  accorded  as  God  himself  would  have 
it;  yea,  as  He  himself  has  given  it,  namely,  fully,  entirely,  and 
without  limit !  His  Majesty  the  Emperor  of  Hayti  has  already 
given  it  in  a  Constitution,  which,  in  that  respect,  is  worthy  of 
both  himself  and  the  nation.  We,  however,  beg  that  Religious 
Liberty  in  Hayti  may  be,  not  a  dead  letter,  but  a  glorious  re 
ality. 

"  The  friends  of  Ilayti  in  Europe,  and  especially  in  England, 
will  sincerely  deplore  to  learn  that  religious  toleration  in  Hayti, 
so  fully  and  amply  declared  by  the  Constitution,  is,  in  reality, 
limited  to  only  certain  towns  in  the  empire. 

"If,  my  Lord,  my  feelings  and  opinions  were  sectarian,  I 
should  scarcely  have  dared  to  speak  so  unreservedly  on  this 


300  HAYTI  AN   INDEPENDENCE, 

momentous  subject;  but  it  is  not  as  an  Englishman,  or  as  a 
AVesleyan,  that  I  have  spoken.  As  a  friend  of  humanity,  and 
especially  so  of  Hayti,  I  am  anxious  that  she  should  take  her 
place  among  the  enlightened  nations  of  the  earth  ;  but  I  hesi 
tate  not  to  say,  that  this  will  never  be  the  case  while  the  great 
mass  of  the  people,  in  the  plains  and  in  the  mountains,  are  left 
in  ignorance  and  deprived  of  the  means  of  Education  and  Civi 
lization.  The  friends  of  Hayti  have  long  deplored  that,  instead 
of  a  hundred  thousand  children  under  instruction,  scarcely  ten 
thousand  are  enjoying  that  advantage — a  truly  lamentable  fact, 
which  opens  widely  the  mouths  of  all  the  enemies  of  the  Afri 
can  race,  and  fills  their  friends  with  gr-ief. 

"  It  is  truly  painful  to  me  to  find  myself  under  the  necessity 
of  placing  these  remarks  before  the  public  of  Europe  ;  but,  as 
it  has  been  officially  announced  to  me  that  religious  toleration 
is  now  limited,  it  is  necessary  that  the  Philanthropists  of  Eng 
land,  and  elsewhere,  should  know  that  their  efforts  to  do  good 
in  this  country  can  not  now  be  extended  to  the  whole  popula 
tion,  in  order  that  they  may  be  saved  the  expense  of  such  plans 
and  enterprises  as  could  not  be  carried  out,  and  which  we  have 
lately  had  the  misfortune  to  incur  uselessly,  from  the  confi 
dence  we  had  in  the  Constitution  and  institutions  of  the 
country. 

"  I  cannot  for  a  moment  doubt,  my  Lord,  but  that  your  ur 
banity  will  forgive  the  liberty  I  have  taken  in  writing  to  you 
frankly  and  freely  on  this  great  subject.  My  object  has  been  to 
place  before  you  more  fully  the  motives  and  desires  which  in 
fluence  our  proceedings  in  Hayti. 

"  Believe  me,  my  Lord,  I  more  than  ever  desire  the  happi 
ness  and  prosperity  of  Hayti." 

It  is,  however,  but  just  to  say  that  the  generality 
of  the  really  intelligent  and  thinking  part  of  the 
Haytian  community  were  both  ashamed  of  and 
indignant  at  this  outrage  on  religious  liberty,  which 
called  forth  this  public  appeal  to  the  Government. 
But  the  despotism  of  the  day  was  supported  by  a 
powerful  army,  and  a  still  greater  power  of  ignorance 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  301 

in  the  blind  masses  of  the  nation.  All,  therefore, 
were  obliged  to  suffer  in  silence,  Nor  will  it  be  sur 
prising,  that  with  such  views  and  feelings  on  the 
part  of  the  Government,  the  prosperity  of  Protestant 
ism  should  have  received  a  check ;  the  more  so  as 
about  this  time  every  Wesley  an  church  in  the 
Republic,  as  well  as  others,  were  in  a  state  of  re 
markable  prosperity ;  for  as  it  often  happens  in  such 
cases,  the  course  pursued  by  the  Government  drew 
both  the  attention  and  the  sympathy  of  the  whole 
nation  more  than  ever  to  Protestantism. 

About  this  time,  the  foundation-stone  of  a  Wes- 
leyan  church  was  laid  at  Jereniie ;  but  before  the 
four  walls  were  completed,  public  feeling,  from  various 
causes,*  having  been  strongly  expressed  against  Pro 
testantism,  the  Imperial  Government  sent  down 
orders  that  the  entire  work  should  be  suspended,  and 
in  fact,  altogether  discontinued,  without  assigning 
the  slightest  reason  for  such  a  proceeding.  After 
great  efforts,  however,  in  various  quarters,  in  the 
form  of  appeals  to  the  Government  on  the  subject, 
the  building,  after  some  months'  delay,  was  allowed 
to  proceed,-)-  and  notwithstanding  the  most  strenuous 
opposition  of  a  purely  popish  nature,  this  neat  little 
house  of  God  was  solemnly  dedicated  to  its  sacred 
purposes,  on  the  28th  of  August,  1851 — the  Thursday 
of  that  week  having  been  preferred  to  the  Sabbath, 
that  being  the  great  market  day.  The  opening  ser 
vice  commenced  at  8  A.  M.  on  the  date  mentioned, 

*  Official  minds  religiously  swayed  and  duped  by  confessors,  etc. 

f  The  cause  of  religious  liberty  was,  in  this  instance,  as  well  as 
many  others,  greatly  indebted  to  the  wise  and  friendly  interference 
of  the  British  Consul,  then  residing  at  the  capital. 


302  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

and  was  conducted  by  the  Rev.  M.  B.  Bird,  of  Port 
ail  Prince ;  the  evening  service  being  assigned  to  the 
Rev.  C.  H.  Bishop,  who  had  but  recently  arrived 
from  England,  and  who,  as  the  Missionary  pastor  of 
the  Station,  had,  through  many  difficulties  requiring 
great  prudence,  brought  all  the  toils  and  anxieties 
connected  with  the  erection  of  this  building,  to  a 
happy  termination,  thus  affording  the  highest  and 
most  grateful  satisfaction  to  those  who  deem  the 
Word  of  God  to  be  man's  sole  guide  on  earth,  by  the 
interesting  events  of  this  memorable  day. 

Great  ceremonies  had  been  appointed  for  that  day 
at  the  Romish  church  of  the  parish,  and  as  they  were 
said  to  be  extra,  they  were  thought  by  many  to  have 
been  simply  in  opposition  to  the  proceedings  of  the 
Protestants  on  that  day.  But  notwithstanding  this, 
the  Roman  Catholics  of  the  town  crowded  the  new 
Protestant  church,  at  the  opening  services  for  that 
day,  showing  thus  a  spirit  of  independence,  very 
much  in  accordance  with  the  Haytian  character. 

It  would  indeed  be  great  ingratitude  not  to  men 
tion  here,  that  the  Wesleyan  church  at  Jeremie  was 
built  by  and  at  the  expense  of  A.  Folsom,  Esq.,  a 
zealous  American  Methodist,  who  had  long  resided 
at  J6remie  as  a  merchant.  Happy  is  it  for  the  cause 
of  God  and  truth,  such  noble  hearts  are  at  least  now 
and  then  to  be  found. 

The  Wesleyan  church  at  Jeremie  is  a  neat  little 
building,  seating  about  two  hundred,  and  is  well 
situated. 

The  Imperial  Government  seemed  now  to  be  con 
solidating  ;  from  the  temporary  crowning,  however, 
to  the  final  and  permanent  coronation,  nearly  three 


FKOM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  303 

years  intervened,  during  which  time  great  efforts 
were  made  with,  the  court  of  Rome  to  obtain  an 
ecclesiastical  dignitary,  duly  authorized  for  the 
solemnization  of  this  great  event,  but  without  suc 
cess,  there  being  at  this  time  no  Concordat  on  the 
part  of  Hayti  with  Home. 

On  the  28th  of  April,  1852,  the  pompous  and  im 
posing  ceremony  of  a  real  coronation,  of  both  the 
Emperor  and  the  Empress,  took  place  on  the  Champ 
de  Mars,  which  is  situated  at  the  back  of  the  National 
Palace  at  Port  au  Prince. 

The  position  of  the  Champ  de  Mars  is  exceedingly 
beautiful ;  its  elevation  commands  a  fine  view  of  the 
vast  bay  of  Port  au  Prince,  which  is  some  hundred 
miles  deep,  and  in  the  midst  of  which  stands  the 
spacious  island  of  "  La  Gonave." 

On  the  southern  side  of  this  immense  bay,  rises  a 
splendid  range  of  mountain  scenery,  which  is  ver 
dant  and  lovely,  where  fertility  would  pour  out 
wealth  to  any  amount,  at  the  command  of  well 
directed  industry,  and  where  the  lower  hills,  towards 
the  foot,  are  crowned  with  forts  and  dwellings. 

The  plains  and  mountains  on  the  northern  side  of 
the  bay  of  Port  au  Prince,  are  also  grand,  but  much 
more  distant  from  the  capital,  while  the  sight  of  the 
city,  standing  upon  a  gentle  slope,  which  gradually 
rises  from  the  sea  shore,  affords  an  imposing  pano- 
ramique  to  the  traveler  approaching  it  in  front  by 
sea,  all  giving  special  charm  and  beauty  to  the  little 
well  watered  plain,  on  which  stands  the  capital  of 
what  at  this  time  was  the  Haytian  empire. 

On  this  spot  was  erected  for  the  day  a  tabernacle 
of  immense  dimensions,  built  of  wood,  as  to  the  frame, 


304:  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDKNCE, 

and  covered  in  with  canvass.  The  interior  was  fitted 
up  as  a  church,  having  a  Romish  altar,  with  its  usual 
decorations  of  flowers,  flaming  tapers,  and  all  that 
was  considered  as  essential  to  the  grandeur  of  the 
occasion.  The  national  colors  were  tastefully  ar 
ranged  throughout  the  interior  of  this  vast  tent, 
which  was  capable  of  containing  some  seven  or  eight 
thousand  persons.  In  fact,  notwithstanding  all  the 
ridicule  which  attached  to  the  whole  case,  it  was  an 
imposing  spectacle.  A  nation,  small  as  it  was,  was 
here  represented,  and  it  must  be  supposed  that  the 
motive,  on  the  part  of  the  well  meaning,  was  national 
and  individual  security,  even  though  it  might  be 
under  the  name  of  an  empire. 

As  early  as  three  o'clock,  A.  M.,  on  the  last  men 
tioned  date,  the  roll  of  drums  was  heard,  calling  the 
troops  together,  and  reminding  the  inhabitants  of 
the  capital  of  the  great  event  which  was  to  distin 
guish  that  day.  Soon  after  daylight,  "  le  Champ  de 
Mars  "  was  filled,  with  all  of  brilliant  and  gay,  both 
civil  and  military. 

At  an  early  hour,  the  roar  of  artillery,  the  shouts 
of  vivas,  the  din  of  arms,  with  the  confusion  of 
bugles,  trumpets,  and  various  bands,  at  different 
points,  announced  the  approach  of  the  Imperial 
state  carriage,  which,  for  splendor,  was  worthy  of 
the  occasion,  and  was  drawn  by  eight  noble  Ameri 
can  greys. 

On  arriving  at  a  side  tent,  at  some  three  or  four 
hundred  feet  distance  from  the  main  one,  the  Impe 
rial  family  alighted,  and  from  thence,  after  a  rather 
long  pause,  all  being  well  adjusted,  his  Majesty,  duly 
robed  and  sceptered,  accompanied  by  the  Empress, 


FROM  HISTORICAL   NOTES.  305 

marched  with  a  brilliant  procession  of  newly-created 
nobles  in  open  air,  until  they  reached  the  entrance 
of  the  great  tent,  and  then  continuing  under  its 
spacious  canopy,  they  ultimately  arrived  in  front  of 
the  great  altar,  now  loaded  with  blazing  tapers  and 
gorgeous  decorations  of  every  kind ;  here  seats  were 
provided  for  all  parties,  according  to  their  rank  and 
honor. 

The  costumes  on  this  occasion,  of  most  of  those 
who  held  offices  of  any  kind,  were  designedly  antique, 
rather  imitating  the  court  and  time  of  Louis  XIY. 
In  fact,  the  splendor  and  riches  displayed  on  this 
occasion,  although  it  seemed  to  throw  one  back  to 
another  age,  by  the  antique,  not  to  say  grotesque 
appearance  of  much  that  was  seen,  gave  at  the  same 
time  an  elevated  idea  of  the  wealth  and  taste  of  the 
Haytian  people.  Nor  would  any  European  infantry 
have  presented  a  neater  or  more  imposing  appear 
ance  than  was  seen  in  the  Haytian  soldiery  on  this 
occasion,  while  the  attire  of  the  simple  citizens  was 
that  of  gentility,  and  worthy  of  the  day. 

Numerous  priests  were  in  attendance ;  but  there 
was  neither  sermon  nor  oration  on  the  occasion  ;  the 
chanting,  however,  and  general  music,  was  good, 
although  wanting  in  good  brass  instruments.  The 
Emperor  crowned  himself,  and  then  the  Empress. 

At  the  end  of  this  pompous  ceremony,  the  roar  of 
cannon  broke  forth  again,  which;  with  the  sound  of 
arms,  and  the  confused  music  of  widely  scattered 
bands,  all  mingling  together  at  the  same  time,  over 
whelmed  everything  ;  yet  all  passed  off  well,  and  the 
shades  of  night  were  welcome. 

It  might  be  admitted,  that  all  this  took  place  at  a 


306  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

time  and  under  circumstances  when  some  great 
national  change  was  needed  ;  but  whether  the  change 
from  a  Republic  to  an  Empire  was  the  best  that 
could  have  been  hit  upon  is  quite  another  question  ; 
whether  there  was  not  rather  in  all  this  a  departure 
from  sound  principle  and  sound  sense  must  be  left  to 
the  future  judgment  of  Hayti  and  the  world. 

A  better  form  of  Government  than  that  over  which 
General  Bojer  presided  in  Hayti,  for  nearly  a  quarter 
of  a  century,  especially  carried  out  in  all  its  spirit 
and  bearings,  need  not  have  been  desired,  except 
indeed  that  it  did  nothing  in  any  positive  sense  for 
the  masses. 

Good,  to  be  genuine  in  its  effects,  whether  of  a 
moral  or  purely  political  nature,  must  be  positive 
and  active,  yea,  and  of  sufficient  power  to  dislodge 
evil.  But  the  too  negative  character  of  the  good 
under  Boyer  was  not  equal  to  the  moment,  nor  will 
such  good  ever  be  equal  to  the  necessities,  [either  of 
Hayti  or  any  other  part  of  the  human  race ;  hence 
with  regard  to  Hayti,  we  see  that  in  1851  country 
people  were  accused  before  the  authorities  of  both  a 
superstitious  and  cannibal  use  of  human  flesh.  It  is 
indeed  to  be  feared,  that  there  was  more  or  less 
truth  in  this  dreadful  accusation ;  but  even  supposing 
the  thing  to  have  been  in  reality  untrue,  the  bare 
possibility  of  such  a  report,  in  a  country  making  any 
pretensions  to  Christianity,  is  most  deplorable,  and 
should  lead  every  intelligent  man  in  the  nation  to  see 
and  feel  the  necessity  of  an  universal  Christian  edu 
cation  through  the  Republic,  such  as  should  become 
literally  individual,  without  exception.  Nor  should 
Christianity  be  a  mere  national  name,  but  a  liv- 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  307 

ing  power,  diffused  through  the  entire  Haytian 
family. 

But  interest,  ambition,  and  a  thousand  other  con 
siderations,  again  created  the  desire  on  the  part  of  the 
Imperial  Government  to  make  another  attempt  upon 
the  Dominican  Republic,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
island,  either  to  win  it  over  to  the  Haytian  empire, 
or  subdue  it  by  conquest  to  its  sway.  Mighty  efforts 
were  now  made  to  collect  an  army  of  as  great  a  nu 
merical  force  as  possible  for  this  purpose  ;  the  whole 
military  machinery  of  the  nation  was  put  in  move 
ment,  and  on  the  10th  of  December,  1855,  the  city 
of  Port  au  Prince  was  in  a  high  state  of  excitement. 
The  troops  which  had  been  summoned  to  the  capital 
for  this  eastern  march,  came  pouring  in  from  the 
southern  part  of  the  island,  and  they,  together  with 
those  already  in  town,  began  to  move  out,  to  be  ulti 
mately  joined  by  northern  regiments. 

Thus  the  melancholy  clang  of  arms  again  rung 
through  the  streets  of  Port  au  Prince,  to  the  great 
affliction  of  many  a-  quiet  and  industrious  family,  for 
it  must  be  remembered,  that  a  Haytian  army  is  made 
up  of  men  who,  in  consequence  of  the  inadequate 
pay  of  the  Government,  principally  support  them 
selves,  their  lands,  industry,  and  commerce,  constitu 
ting  the  main  hope  and  resource  of  their  families. 
This  simple  fact  will  show  at  once  the  ruinous  ten 
dency  of  a  Haytian  military  march,  both  as  to  officers 
and  men. 

Soon  after  midnight,  on  the  day  following  the  last 
date,  viz.,  the  llth  of  December,  the  remaining  regi 
ments  were  in  movement,  and  about  four  A.  M.  the 
Emperor  himself,  with  his  staff,  moved  out. 


308  HAYTTAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

All  were  in  high  spirits,  but  the  hilarity  of  the 
soldiery  arose  from  the  assurance  which  had  been 
given,  that  war  was  not  intended ;  the  old  vague 
tale,  that  the  Haytian  party  among  the  Spaniards  in 
the  East,  was  now  really  strong,  and  again  only 
awaiting  the  arrival  of  another  Haytian  force,  to 
guarantee  them  in  an  open  revolt  from  their  own 
Government,  was  renewed,  and  with  this  assurance, 
which  only  an  unthinking  mass  could  believe,  these 
deluded  troops  went  out  gaily. 

The  Spaniards,  however,  being  of  a  vastly  different 
mind,  were  prepared,  and  when  the  opposing  parties 
met  on  the  Spanish  side  of  the  frontier,  the  deceived 
Haytians,  who  had  been  told  there  was  to  be  no  war, 
found  themselves  fiercely  attacked  by  the  Spaniards, 
and  the  discovery  of  this  deception  by  their  own 
Government  raised  a  storm  of  indignation  which 
placed  the  Emperor  himself  in  a  most  unhappy 
position.  He  now,  having  as  much  to  fear  from  his 
own  men  as  from  the  Spaniards,  was  compelled,  with 
those  who  adhered  to  him,  to  retreat  towards  the 
northern  frontiers  of  his  own  empire. 

It  should  be  observed  here,  that  the  feeling  of  the 
great  mass  of  the  Haytian  people  towards  the 
Spaniards  of  their  own  island,  is  perfectly  friendly, 
and  that  there  was  nothing  in  the  case  to  excite  war 
like  passions. 

During  the  stay  of  the  Haytian  army  at  Ounaminthe, 
on  the  northern  frontiers  of  the  French  part,  one  or 
two  worse  than  useless  attempts  were  again  made  on 
the  Spaniards,  by  which  the  Emperor,  becoming  con 
vinced  of  his  helplessness,  again  turned  his  course 
towards  his  capital,  which  he  entered  at  midnight, 


FEOM  HISTOEICAL  NOTES.  309 

most  ingloriously,  on  the  14th  of  February,  1856, 
without  the  noise  of  cannon,  music,  or  anything  else, 
a  silence  which  was  singularly  marked  by  an  unusual 
degree  of  common  sense. 

This  effort,  however,  had  been  intended  to  be  a 
mighty  one,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  simple  fact,  that 
nearly  thirty  thousand  men  had  been  drawn  together 
from  different  parts  of  the  island  for  this  great  enter 
prise  ;  and  there  is  every  reason  to  believe,  that  it 
involved  a  considerable  and  useless  loss  of  human 
life,  and  also  of  cattle,  to  say  nothing  of  the  uncalled- 
for  injury,  inflicted  upon  the  internal  and  general 
interests  of  an  already  suffering  country. 

Nothing  can  be  more  deplorable  than  that  men, 
entrusted  with  a  nation's  welfare,  and  having  every 
material  and  resource  to  secure  the  general  happiness 
and  prosperity  of  a  people,  should,  instead  of  faith 
fully  fulfilling  that  high  commission,  plunge  all  into 
a  sea  of  misery,  either  by  a  positively  wrong  course 
in  everything,  which  must  soon  bring  on  the  ruin 
both  of  the  governing  and  the  governed ;  or  by  one 
so  negative  in  all  of  good,  as  to  involve,  although  less 
speedily,  yet  not  less  certainly,  ultimate  consequences, 
equally  unhappy  and  deplorable. 

The  energies  of  the  nation  for  good  were  thus  left 
to  sleep,  being  without  any  wise  direction,  while  all 
the  natural  resources  were  left  locked  up  by  sheer 
inaction,  or  rather  by  a  false  application  of  the 
national  energies  to  ambitious  purposes. 

From  a  pamphlet  on  the  mines  and  general  re 
sources  of  Hayti,  published  in  1844,  the  following 
extracts  will  give  some  idea  of  the  immense  resources 
of  Hayti : 


310 

"From  the  year  1494  to  1504,  gold  mines  in  Hayti  were 
worked  with  considerable  profit. 

"In  1694  an  official  report  of  Charlevoix  speaks  of  gold  as 
even  abundant  in  the  eastern  part  of  Hayti ;  but  disputes  hav 
ing  arisen,  the  Spanish  Court  ordered  that  the  mines  should  be 
filled  up. 

"  Silver  also  is  said  by  the  same  writer  to  have  been  found 
in  abundance  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  island. 

"In  1503  quicksilver  was  found  by  Ovando,  on  the  spot 
where  he  was  building  a  convent.  This  mine  is  also  said  to 
have  been  closed,  by  order  of  the  Spanish  Government,  in  con 
sequence  of  certain  difficulties  with  the  monks  residing  there. 

"  Iron  also  is  known  to  be  abundant,  and  is  found  in  different 
parts,  probably  throughout  the  island. 

"  Copper  is  known  to  exist.  Morean  de  St.  Me>y,  speaking 
of  the  copper  mines  in  the  mountains  of  Maymon,  declares  the 
yield  to  be  abundant. 

"  In  addition  to  the  metals,  sulphur  and  coal  have  been  found 
in  considerable  quantities.* 

Since  the  publication  of  the  pamphlet,  from  which 
the  above  extracts  are  taken,  petroleum  has  been 
discovered  in  the  eastern  part  of  Hayti,  which  it  is 
ascertained  is  of  the  highest  quality,  while  it  is  pro 
bable  that  it  is  not  confined  to  one  locality. 

But  besides  these  valuable  resources,  still  more 
abundant  wealth  is  found  in  the  climate  and  soil 
of  the  country.  Nature  in  Hayti  is  continually  pro 
lific  ;  she  yields  incessantly,  and  is  never  checked  by 
the  chilling  blast  of  winter,  of  which  she  knows 
nothing. 

A  certain  quality  of  sweet  potatoe  comes  to  per 
fection  in  less  than  three  months,  all  the  year  round. 

In  Hayti,  as  in  the  other  West  India  Islands,  many 
of  the  simple  vegetable  products  will  yield  three 

*  W.  G.  Smith,  M.  D.,  long  resident  in  Hayti. 


FKOM  HISTORICAL  NOTES.  311 

times  a  year,  while  many  others,  such  as  the  grape 
vine,  etc.,  will  afford  two  crops  the  same  year. 

In  fact,  the  Haytians  are  in  the  midst  of  abound 
ing,  yea,  over-abounding  wealth.  That  misery,  from 
want  of  any  kind,  should  exist  in  such  a  country,  is 
intolerable  ;  nor  will  the  best  friends  of  Hay  ti  excuse 
her  in  such  a  case. 

In  addition  to  the  abundant  resources  already 
mentioned,  must  be  noted,  woods  of  the  most  valua 
ble  kind,  not  only  in  immense  quantity,  but  also  in 
great  variety,  including  mahogany,  etc.* 

On  the  subject  of  the  great  resources  of  Hati,  the 
following  extract  from  the  preface  of  the  pamphlet 
already  referred  to,  is  particularly  worthy  of  atten 
tion,  as  coming  from  a  well-cultivated  mind,  more  or 
less  allied  to  Africa  : 

"  It  is  time  that  Ilayti  had  recourse  to  her  many  natural  re 
sources,  and  thus  to  rid  herself  of  her  financial  embarrassments 
by  availing  herself  of  the  advantages  of  her  incomparably  rich 
and  fertile  soil. 

"  In  many  parts  of  the  world,  the  cultivator  of  the  soil  is  ne 
cessarily  the  slave  of  an  unfavorable  and  varying  climate,  while 
we  have  the  advantage  and  enjoyment  of  one  which  is  ever 
prolific. 

"  At  the  same  time  that  our  plains  are  ever  under  summer 
heat,  our  mountain  heights  afford  perpetual  spring,  equal  to 
that  of  Southern  Europe. 

"  With  very  little  labor  on  our  part,  our  soil  affords  us  even 
greater  abundance ;  while,  at  the  same  time,  our  fertilizing 
streams  abound,  as  we  all  know. 

*  For  a  long  time  it  -was  considered  to  be  doubtful  whether  the 
Island,  standing  in  the  immense  bay  of  Port  au  Prince,  called 
"La  Gonave,"  was  of  much  worth  ;  this,  however,  is  now  no 
longer  doubtful  ;  mahogany  is  known  to  be  plentiful  there,  as  well 
as  an  important  variety  of  other  rich  wood  ;  nor  are  its  resources 
yet  fully  known. 


312  SAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

"  These  things,  up  to  the  present  moment,  (1844)  have  been 
forgotten  ;  while  at  the  same  time,  in  a  financial  point  of  view, 
our  foreign  debt  might,  by  such  abundant  means,  soon  be 
effaced. 

11  The  European  would,  doubtless,  accept  our  offers  to  bring 
out  our  productive  resources  to  a  yet  far  greater  extent :  woods 
of  great  variety  yet  remain  to  be  brought  forth,  of  which  but 
few,  even  of  the  Haytians  themselves,  are  aware  of  the  value." 

With  regard  to  the  mountain  regions  of  Hayti, 
there  is  everything  in  them,  as  to  nature,  to  charm. 
The  climate,  in  some  of  the  greatest  elevations  is,  in 
winter,  absolutely  cold  during  the  night,  while  the 
mornings  and  evenings  are  perfectly  invigorating. 
Fertility  frequently  reaches  the  mountain  tops ; 
where,  by  the  aid  of  a  cool  temperature,  the  pro 
ductions  of  the  northern  latitudes  might  be  realized. 

The  grand  drawback  in  the  great  elevations  would 
probably  be  the  absence  of  springs  ;  but,  with  suit 
able  tanks,  well  built,  the  rains  would  be  sufficiently 
abundant  to  supply  every  want  at  the  same  time. 
Mountain  springs  are  not  uncommon.  In  fact,  the 
old  French  Masters  of  Hayti  were  not  far  from  right 
when  they  declared  St.  Domingo  to  be  the  Paradise 
of  Frenchmen ! 

It  is,  indeed,  true  that  the  population  of  Hayti, 
apart  from  the  army,  is  small,  and  its  capitalists  are 
but  few  ;  the  arts  and  sciences,  and  in  fact  all  that 
really  stirs  up  man  to  action,-  have  been  lost  sight  of 
by  war  and  discord. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  boundless  natural  re 
sources  of  Hayti  have  not  had  the  effect  of  convinc 
ing  the  whole  Haytian  family  of  the  error  of  limiting 
the  education  of  their  children  merely  to  the  correct 


FROM   HISTORICAL  NOTES.  313 

use  of  the  pen.  A  Government  considering  itself 
paternal,  as  has  been  the  great  idea  of  most  of  the 
Haytian  Governments,  and  having  the  entire  control 
of  the  national  education,  might  well  turn  the 
thought  of  the  people  to  this  great  question.  The 
resources  of  the  country,  the  unmistakable  spirit  of 
the  age,  as  well  as  the  general  and  true  interests  of  the 
nation,  now  demand  a  competent  knowledge  of 
science  ;  in  fact,  science  now  stands  closely  allied  to 
commerce,  manufactures,  agriculture,  and  every  other 
branch  of  industry  ;  and  is,  therefore,  the  key  which 
unlocks  these  resources  of  nature,  over  which  God 
has  made  man  an  accountable  steward  ;  nor  can  any 
nation  of  the  present  age  have  these  resources  closed 
up  through  indifference,  without  being  guilty  of  glar 
ing  ingratitude  to  the  blest  Creator,  and  most  cer 
tainly  exposing  itself,  either  to  the  well-merited 
frown  and  contempt  of  mankind,  or  to  the  danger  of 
being  overwhelmed  by  the  great  ocean  of  civilization 
which  is  sure  to  rise  around  it* 

Science  is  the  book  of  God,  and  its  great  truths 
should  be  known  to  our  children,  as  coining  from 
God.*  If  mind  could  be  made  visible  to  mortal  eye, 
the  grandest  sight  on  earth,  relating  to  man,  would 
be  a  mind  expanded  and  adorned,  with  all  the  truth 
of  God,  scientifically  and  morally  !  Poor,  therefore, 

*  The  difficulty  of  introducing  elementary  science  into  the 
schools  of  a  purely  commercial  and  agricultural  people,  has  long 
been  felt  in  the  Wesleyan  Establishment  at  Port  au  Prince  ;  but 
let  the  Government,  as  well  as  the  various  Boards  of  Education, 
take  up  the  subject  of  science,  as  bearing  upon  all  human  interests, 
and  especially  as  the  key  of  the  boundless  natural  wealth  of  Hayti, 
and  all  difficultywill  cease. 


314:  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE^ 

if  not  even  dangerous,  is  that  education  of  either 
childhood  or  youth,  where  these  elements  are  not 
found  ;  nor,  perhaps,  is  there  a  country  in  the  world 
where  the  evil  effects  of  a  partial,  or  simply  secular 
education,  have  been  more  fully  demonstrated  than 
in  Hayti ;  yea,  here  is  one  of  the  secret  springs  of 
her  unnumbered  woes. 

These  remarks  are  not  intended  simply  as  reproach 
ful  to  the  Haytian  nation ;  rather,  the  present  rea 
soning  is  suggested  by  the  astounding  signs  of  the 
times,  to  which  it  is  impossible  to  be  blind.  Elec 
tric  telegraphs  will  soon  encircle  the  globe.  Steam 
is  driving  on  the  interests  of  the  earth  in  every  pos 
sible  way,  both  as  to  traveling  and  manufactures  ; 
and,  although  we  may  hope  that  ultimately  the  com 
merce,  science,  and  Religion  of  mankind  will  render 
war  incompatible  with  the  general  interests  of  the 
human  race,  and  even  impossible — yet,  at  the  same 
time,  even  at  present,  no  nation  or  people  can  remain 
mere  active  spectators  of  this  grand  world-wide 
movement.  Isolation  in  any  sense,  or  for  any  people, 
would  seem  to  be  now  impossible  ;  there  may  have 
been,  and  even  still  may  be  cases  in  which  temporary 
isolation  may  seem  to  be  just ;  but  if  the  human  race 
is  one  family,  such  cases  must  be  regarded  rather  as 
transient  and  preliminary  than  otherwise.  Perma 
nent  isolation  is  utterly  incompatible  with  that  almost 
annihilation  of  distance  which  may  be  said  even 
already  to  have  resulted  from  the  general  improve 
ments  and  march  of  the  age. 

The  various  tastes,  capabilities,  and  intelligence  of 
each  branch  of  the  human  race,  seem  to  make  it 
strongly  appear  that  man  of  every  hue  and  tongue 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  315 

constitutes  but  one  vast  family,  each  member  of 
which  being  destined  to  that  which  to  others  would 
probably  be  impossible ;  this  may  be  seen  also  in  the 
fact,  that  each  division  of  the  earth  has  productions, 
etc.,  peculiar  to  itself,  thus  leading  us  to  the  con 
clusion  that  the  interests  of  men  are  all  mutual,  one 
and  the  same ;  and  that,  therefore,  an  universal 
brotherhood  is  not  a  dream ;  international  hate  is, 
therefore,  deep  ignorance,  and  must  ultimately  give 
place  to  the  harmony  of  common  sense  and  peace, 
that  the  prosperity  of  the  world,  in  all  senses,  may 
go  on. 

The  dawn  of  Christian  civilization  is  rising  over  the 
whole  earth ;  nor  will  it  be  possible  for  any  one  na 
tion  or  people  to  stand  still  and  see  this  great  sight ; 
this,  in  the  nature  of  things,  cannot  be.  All  are,  and 
must  be,  participators  in  this  great  drama.  The  ark, 
rising  with  the  waters,  saves  the  human  race  ;  woe, 
therefore,  to  the  nation  that  does 'not  rise,  for  the 
tide  of  progress  is  irresistible. 

Hayti,  like  every  other  nation,  must  rise,  or  be 
overwhelmed.  She  cannot  now  shut  out  any  element 
from  herself,  by  which  divine  Providence  is  working 
for  the  general  good  of  the  human  family.  The  days 
of  exclusion,  with  all  the  reasons  by  which  they  were 
originally  justified  in  Hayti,  have  passed  away  ;  and, 
whatever  laws  would  now  act  as  bolts  to  keep  out 
anything  which  stands  allied  to  human  dignity  and 
prosperity,  must  yield.  The  great  nations  of  the  age 
have  treated  with  her  on  terms  of  the  most  perfect 
equality — not  one  honor  or  privilege  is  refused  ;  nor 
can  she  repel  her  own  friends  in  any  sense,  or  for 
any  reason  close  her  doors ;  she  cannot  be  exclusive, 


316  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

while  the  greater  nations  of  the  age  have  thrown 
themselves  open  both  to  her  and  to  the  world.* 

Let  it  not,  however,  be  supposed  that  Hayti,  in 
any  sense,  has  been  standing  still ;  her  advance  has, 
indeed,  been  slow,  yet  her  commerce  is  sufficiently 
indicative  of  action  and  industry  to  afford  the 
strongest  assurance  that,  under  sound  civil  institu 
tions,  the  produce  and  general  wealth  of  the  country 
would  very  greatly  increase. 

On  this  subject  it  is  but  just  to  observe,  that  the 
difficulties  of  the  Haytian  Republic  have  been  such 
as  are  rarely  heard  of;  nor  can  we  here  stay  to 
reason  out  whether  these  difficulties  were  evitable  or 
inevitable  ;  certain  it  is,  that  a  military  system  of  the 
very  wrorst  kind  has  weighed  upon  every  arm  of  the 
nation ;  and  yet,  notwithstanding  hindrances  seldom 
experienced  by  any  people,  there  has  always  been  an 
evident  eagerness  to  earn,  which  goes  strongly  to 
show  that,  with  fair  civilian  institutions,  there  would 
be  fair  results. 

In  an  American  pamphlet,  published  in  1853,  it 
will  be  seen  that,  at  that  time,  the  exports  from 
Hayti  were  about  40,000,000  pounds  of  coffee,  im 
mense  cargoes  of  logwood,  mahogany  and  other 
woods,  beside  large  quantities  of  cocoa,  hemp,  rurn, 
cotton,  honey,  etc.,  etc.f 

*  One  of  the  articles  of  the  Haytian  Constitution,  when  this 
work  was  commenced,  excluded  the  white  man  as  landed  pro 
prietor  from  the  soil  of  Hayti. 

f  B.  C.  Clark,  of  Boston. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

DOMESTIC   FEATUBES  OF   HAYTIAN  CIVILIZATION. 

The  family  is  the  nation. — Boys  and  Cigars. — Woman  in  Hayti. — 
The  Freedmen  of  the  States. — Efforts  in  their  behalf. — Wooden 
cross  not  Christ. — French  character  from  a  tropical  mould. — 
Haytian  Costume. — Haytian  table. — Haytian  furniture. — A  na 
tive  Artist. — Music  in  Hayti. — Domestic  service  difficult. — Fu 
nerals,  Baptisms,  Marriages. — Funeral  of  a  General. — Masonic 
Funerals. — Schools  of  merit  encouraged. — Sitting  at  doors. — 
Public  roads. — Must  be  free  to  be  great. — Mothers  absorbed  in 
Commerce,  —Divorce. 


0  !  Save  me 

From  the  man,  whose  giant  niind,  but  makes  him 
Clever  to  deceive  ;  the  hollow  soul,  where 
All  of  hell  lies  fairly  hid  under  a 
Mask  of  light. 

ONE  of  the  grand  lessons  not  yet  practically  learnt 
in  Hayti  is,  that  a  nation  is  whatever  its  families 
are ;  the  domestic  circle  well  formed,  so  also  will  be 
the  nation,  hence  it  will  naturally  follow,  that  un 
trained  families  will  form  an  untrained  nation.  This 
principle  will  at  once  give  us  the  right  to  examine, 
even  minutely,  the  interior  and  detailed  life  of  a 
people — nor  are  we  to  hesitate  before  the  fact,  that 
this  is  one  of  the  most  important  of  questions,  highly 
worthy  of  the  attention  of  the  faithful  statesman,  the 
Christian,  and  the  philanthropist.  We  are  however 
compelled  to  admit,  that  the  formation  of  the  domes 
tic  circle,  never  has  been  considered  to  form  any 


318 

part  of  the  Governmental  anxiety  of  the  rulers  of 
Hayti ;  to  legislate  upon  this  subject  would  indeed 
be  difficult,  but  the  power  of  a  living  and  ever-work 
ing  example  in  the  great  dignitaries  of  a  nation, 
would  be  an  effectual  frown  on  vice  in  any  form. 

Yet  the  lamentation  never  ceases  in  Hayti,  that 
the  people  are  not  prepared,  etc.,  etc.,  nor  can  there 
be  any  doubt  but  that  this  long  reigning  idea  has 
greatly  contributed  to  make  Hayti  what  it  is.  Poli 
tically  as  well  as  domestically,  its  effect  ought  indeed 
to  have  been  stimulating,  but  it  has  rather  been 
stagnating,  not  to  say  withering.  Mere  rudiments 
have  been  lost  sight  of  in  Ha}4i,  hence,  mathemat 
ics  are  not  unfrequently  studied,  and  to  a  great  extent 
mastered,  in  a  domestic  chaos ;  the  ensemble  of  a 
splendid  structure  is  admired,  but  it  is  forgotten 
that  the  house  should  be  built  upon  a  rock,  whether 
religiously,  politically,  or  otherwise,  and  the  minu 
test  details  of  the  building  are  at  the  same  time  to  be 
fully  entered  into. 

The  domestic  training  of  Hayti,  by  which  is  here 
meant  the  entire  mass  of  the  nation,  is  a  fearful 
question  ;  it  would  be  unjust  to  say  that  there  is  ab 
solutely  none.  But  a  few  well  trained  families  in  a 
nation,  constituting  a  mere  fraction  of  the  whole, 
could  not  form  the  character  of  a  people. 

Paternal  control  doubtless  exists  in  Hayti,  but  the 
exercise  of  it  requires  a  training  and  a  style  of  sense 
which  are  but  rarely  found  on  these  shores.  In  fact, 
the  possibility  of  forming  either  the  domestic  circle 
or  the  character  of  youth,  in  a  Christian  sense,  in  a 
nation  where  concubinage  and  libertinage  prevail, 
may  be  fairly  questioned.  A  nation  under  the  power 


FEOM  HISTORICAL  NOTJES.  319 

and  spell  of  such  a  state  of  things  is  most  unhappy. 
Early  yieldings  to  vice,  in  such  a  case,  will  be  ine 
vitable,  as  may  be  plainly  seen  in  the  fact  that  the 
boy  and  the  cigar  are  too  often  met  with  in  Hayti, 
while  the  same  may  be  said  to  be  the  idol  of  the  man, 
from  which  he  can  only  part  when  it  is  wrenched 
from  him  by  sleep  :  and  generally  the  very  criminal, 
as  he  marches  to  the  place  of  execution,  clings  to 
this  indulgence  to  the  last. 

It  will  not  be  surprising,  if  the  unformed  charac 
ter,  from  want  of  domestic  training,  should  neither 
know  nor  care  much  as  to  the  value  of  time.  This, 
to  the  foreigner  in  Hayti,  is  frequently  an  immense 
inconvenience,  while  it  involves,  beyond  all  calcula 
tion,  national  loss,  not  only  of  character,  but  of 
wealth. 

Perhaps  one  of  the  greatest  hindrances  to  the 
right  formation  of  youth  in  Hayti  hitherto  has  been 
the  military  impressment,  which  now,  and  for  a  long 
period,  has  frequently  been  done  as  soon  as  a  lad  has 
been  capable  of  bearing  arms ;  so  that  the  alarming 
fact  stands  before  us,  that  the  greater  part  of  the 
youth,  forced  into  an  undisciplined  army,  which  is 
not  needed  for  a  foreign-foe,  and  where  one-half  of 
life  is  wasted  in  indolence,  gambling  and  vice.  To 
expect  the  formation  of  a  manly,  virtuous,  national 
character  from  such  elements,  were  to  expect  figs  from 
thistles. 

But  where  the  vast  majority  of  a  nation  present 
more  of  a  domestic  chaos  than  otherwise,  what  can 
be,  what  must  be,  the  position  of  woman  ? 

It  is  only  just  to  mention  that  there  are  many 
daughters  in  Hayti  of  well  formed  character  and 


320  HAYTIAN  INDEPENDENCE, 

great  accomplishments.  Compared,  however,  with 
the  masses  of  the  nation,  these  are  but  exceptions ; 
in  fact,  the  general  training  and  position  of  woman 
in  liayti  is  an  exceedingly  painful  subject  of  consid 
eration. 

Commanding  female  influence,  founded  upon  sound 
and  useful  education,  strengthened  and  confirmed 
by  Christian  virtue,  is  wanting, — a  fact  which  per 
haps  more  than  any  other,  has  let  loose  vice  upon 
the  nation.  On  this  subject  much  error  has  been 
committed.  There  has  been  a  great  eagerness  for 
the  education  of  boys,  while  the  girls  have  been  left 
in  comparative  neglect.  Had  the  mothers  of  the 
Republic  been  cared  for, — had  the  eagerness  for 
education  been  rather  in  favor  of  the  girls, — the 
industry,  and  entire  moral  element  of  the  nation  had 
now  unquestionably  been  of  a  far  higher  tone,  its 
revolutions  fewer,  and  love  of  arms  far  less. 

The  formation  of  female  character  is  doubtless 
vital  to  the  best  interests  of  a  people.  Here  the  en 
ormity  of  concubinage  again  appears.  The  mother 
in  this  case  feels  that  her  dignity  as  such  is  lowered, 
and  she  is  conscious  that  her  daughter  sinks  with 
her,  while,  at  the  same  time,  society  at  large  is  in 
jured. 

My  mother  and  my  sister  wise  and  pure, 
My  country  and  myself  are  safe  and  sure. 

The  domestic  training  which  tells  upon  the  charac 
ter  of  a  people,  and  in  fact  forms  it,  as  in  England 
and  America,  can  only  result  from  the  long  roll  of 
generations.  Nevertheless,  the  nation  can  only  be 
what  the  family  is,  and  the  family,  in  domestic  train 
ing,  will  depend  upon  the  mother.  A  nation  ever  in 


FKOM    HISTORICAL   NOTES.  321 

the  presence  of  female  virtue,  will  and  must  show  a 
moral  attitude  and  power  not  otherwise  to  be  ac 
quired. 

One  of  the  grandest  spectacles  of  the  present,  or 
perhaps  any  other  age,  as  [to  its  moral  bearing,  and 
singularly  worthy  the  attention  of  Hayti,  was  that 
noble  movement  in  the  United  States  which  followed 
the  abolition  of  slavery,  and  which  amounted  almost 
to  a  rush  of  hundreds  towards  the  South,  whose  ob 
ject  was  to  bring  the  freedmen  under  the  influence 
of  Christian  instruction — an  effort  probably  without 
parallel  in  the  annals  of  history,  and  which  soon  ac 
quired  the  glory  of  placing  many  thousands  under 
those  elevating  influences  of  preliminary  mental  and 
moral  culture  which  prepare  men  for  free  and  inde 
pendent  life.  The  fact  is  sublime,  of  an  army  of 
honest  and  hearty  pioneers,  armed  with  pens  and 
spelling  books,  etc.,  and,  above  all,  with  the  Word  of 
God,  both  in  their  hearts  and  in  their  hands,  like 
true  Missionaries,  bent  on  tearing  up  ignorance  and 
vice  by  the  root,  and  planting  the  seeds  of  plain, 
sound  knowledge,  with  the  hope  that  not  one  freed- 
man  should  remain  in  ignorance,  but  should  be,  as 
soon  as  possible,  capable  of  understanding  and  ful 
filling  his  duties,  as  a  Christian,  Republican  citizen. 

Such  a  spontaneous  burst  of  Christian  patriotic  feel 
ing  gives  the  true  idea  of  the  means  by  which  the 
world  is  to  be  converted  to  God.  Armies  must  go 
forth,  their  arms  mere  truth,  rather  than  here  and 
there  a  Missionary,  whose  stand  is  indeed  the  nobler 
because  he  is  solitary, — yet  what  is  one  among  so 
many  ?  But  the  main  question  suggested  by  this 
grand  move  is,  Why  has  not  Hayti  done  this  long 


322  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

ago  ?  Had  it  ever  been  truly  upon  the  conscience,  or 
really  in  the  heart  of  the  various  Governments  that 
have  ruled  Hayti  since  its  independence,  both  the 
means  and  the  power  have  ever  existed  to  do  so,— 
but  nothing  is  more  evident  than  that  Christianity  > 
without  its  life  and  power,  is  little  worth.  The  form 
of  Christianity  has  long  been  given  to  the  Haytians, 
but  a  wooden  cross  is  not  Christ ! 

As  in  the  domestic  description  of  a  people  details 
become  necessary,  it  may  not  be  uninteresting  to 
bring  out  some  of  the  home  customs  and  usages  of 
this  small  but  remarkable  Kepublic. 

Considering  the  peculiar  history  of  Hayti — the 
circumstances  which  gave  it  birth — its  ardent  and 
ever-glowing  climate,  and  the  splendors  of  its  luxu 
riant  scenery,  it  is  natural  to  expect  that  there  should 
be  many  singularities  in  the  general  character  of  its 
civilization  which  would  give  it  special  identity  and 
interest. 

As  might  be  expected,  considering  the  fact  of  its 
having  been  a  French  colony,  almost  idolized  by 
France,  Hayti  still  bears  all  the  impress  of  the  French 
character,  as  to  its  present  habits  and  manners.  It 
must,  however,  be  well  noted,  that  all  of  French  in 
Hayti  has  been  formed  in  a  tropical  mould,  and  that 
consequently  there  are  many  traits  in  it  which  could 
not  be  seen  in  France  itself. 

Among  the  more  intelligent  classes  of  the  Haytian 
Kepublic,  the  hereditary  notions  and  general  bias  are 
French,  especially  as  far  as  real  civilization  may  have 
advanced.  France,  in  nearly  everything,  is  the  Hay 
tian  model.  This  is  simply  natural,  the  French  lan 
guage  being  the  only  medium  of  intercourse  and 


FKOM   HISTOEICAL  NOTES.  323 

knowledge.  The  civilization  and  institutions  of 
Europe  and  the  United  States  are  all  viewed  only  by 
means  of  a  French  press,  and  consequently  with 
French  hues  and  tints.  There  are,  indeed,  excep 
tions  ;  some  having  received  their  education  in  Eng 
land,  and  others  having  effectually  studied  the  Eng 
lish  language,  without  leaving  their  country,  have 
more  or  less  acquainted  themselves  with  both  Ameri 
can  and  English  institutions. 

But  the  character,  progress,  and  general  civiliza 
tion  of  Hayti,  can  only  be  rightly  understood  accord 
ing  to  the  point  from  which  all  is  viewed.  The  great 
masses  of  the  people  are  of  African  origin,  while  their 
advantages,  as  to  even  primary  education,  have  been 
little  or  none  ;  yet  if  the  comparison  as  to  civilization 
is  to  be  with  its  own  first  moments  of  freedom,  it 
will  unquestionably  be  found  that  the  advance  has 
been  great ;  but  if  Haytian  progress,  in  this  respect, 
is  to  be  measured  by  an  American  or  European  stand 
ard,  then  it  will  be  found  wanting. 

Hayti  must  be  judged  by  those  controlling  circum 
stances  which  have  formed  and  ruled  her;  hence  her 
progress  can  only  be  fairly  estimated  by  those  who 
really  know  her. 

The  dress  and  costumes  of  the  Haytians  may,  in  a 
general  way,  be  said  to  be  such  as  prevail  in  France. 
It  may  be  said,  however,  that  the  Haytian  peasantry, 
like  that  of  the  West  Indies,  generally  are  smarter, 
more  fashionable,  and  more  gay,  than  that  of  Europe. 
This,  perhaps,  may  be  attributable,  to  a  great  extent, 
if  not  principally,  to  an  ever  gay  and  splendid  cli 
mate  ;  hence  at  their  national  festivities,  or  on  great 
occasions,  and  at  their  public  assemblies,  the  displays 


HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

of  dress  among  the  Haytians  are  in  brilliant  accord 
ance  with  their  native  clime.  The  men  of  all  ranks 
display  the  tastes  of  Paris ;  while  the  ladies  of  all 
shades  between  black  and  white,  still  retain  the  cus 
tom  of  wearing,  as  the  head  dress,  either  the  purely 
white  or  gaily  colored  Madras  handkerchief,  which  is 
sometimes  so  gracefully  arranged  as  frequently  to 
amount  to  elegance,  especially  with  the  darker  hues. 
Bonnets  are  used  principally  by  Haytian  ladies  of  good 
education,  received  either  in  Europe  or  at  home,  of 
which  the  number  is  increasing  rapidly.  The  im 
mense  and  costly  shawl  is  by  many  still  preferred  ; 
while  among  the  wealthy  and  more  advanced  female 
youths,  the  Parisian  attire  is  more  rigidly  adhered  to  ; 
but  snowy  white  is  in  the  tropics  justly  admired  and 
sought,  both  by  men  and  women,  if  not  as  real  and 
full  dress,  certainly  as  the  best  suited  to  perpetual 
heat. 

Perhaps  it  ought  not  to  be  matter  of  surprise  that 
in  a  climate  almost  invariably  bright,  love  of  orna 
ment  should  amount  to  a  weakness,  on  which  im 
mense  sums  are  continually  expended — an  exhausting 
expenditure,  which  might  doubtless  be  far  better 
applied — the  embellishments  of  the  mind  being  of 
infinitely  greater  importance  than  mere  external  deco 
rations.  In  fact,  it  must  be  confessed  that  not  only 
important  necessities  are  sacrificed  at  this  empty 
shrine,  but  real  gentility  and  good  taste.  This  is  men 
tioned  more  in  the  sense  of  fact  than  otherwise  ;  for 
it  cannot  be  denied  that  this  is  a  human  weakness, 
and  is  by  no  means  confined  to  Hayti,  prevailing  as 
it  does  everywhere. 

It  is  presumed  that  these  details,  while  they  will 


FROM   HISTORICAL  NOTES..  325 

not  fail  to  interest,  may  at  the  same  time  serve  to 
illustrate  the  point  now  in  view,  which  is  the  degree 
of  exterior  civilization  attained  by  the  bulk  of  the 
Ilaytian  people,  as  viewed  from  their  original  start 
ing  point,  which  it  is  conceived  is  the  only  fair 
means  of  forming  a  correct  opinion  on  this  question. 

It  might  indeed  be  said  that  not  much  is  gained  by 
such  a  mode  of  judging,  nor  is  it  pretended  that  the 
progress  of  Ilayti,  in  this  or  any  other  respect,  is 
entirely  satisfactory ;  much  more  might  and  ought 
unquestionably  to  have  been  done — nevertheless  it  is 
not  to  be  forgotten  that  a  people  thus  clad,  and  who 
even  carry  out  their  love  of  appearance  to  an  extreme, 
must  by  their  own  industry  have  procured  the  means 
of  feeding  and  supporting  their  tastes,  and  might 
serve  to  show  how  the  revenue  of  this  small  Republic 
has  not  only  covered  its  own  national  ordinary  ex 
penses,  but  has  also  met  the  annual  claims  of  France, 
in  reference  to  an  indemnity  already  explained. 

But  the  glowing  picture  of  Ilayti  now  before  us, 
and  to  which  yet  more  might  be  added,  has  never 
theless  its  shades  ;  nor  would  it  be  honest  or  fair  not 
to  point  them  out  as  essential  to  the  completion  of  a 
national  picture.  It  must  then  be  remembered  that 
what  has  now  been  advanced  has  special  reference  to 
public  appearances. 

The  displays  of  ornamental  wealth  are  of  course 
confined  to  great  or  remarkable  occasions,  when  jew 
elry,  from  the  highest  quality  to  the  very  lowest  tinsel 
that  glitters,  is  in  demand. 

But  the  shades  of  the  picture  which  we  are  now 
endeavoring  to  paint,  are  to  be  seen  in  private  and 
domestic  life ;  hence,  having  gained  the  cool  retreat 


326  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

of  Lome,  after  sweltering  beneath  a  scorching  sun,  in 
the  close  and  confined  prison  of  some  new  and  gay 
Parisian  fashion,  a  relief  is  naturally  sought,  which 
forms  a  striking  contrast  between  the  interior  and 
exterior  of  life.  Let  it  not,  however,  be  forgotten  that 
an  oppressive  climate  forms  the  picture  now  before 
us,  and  enters  into  all  the  details  of  domestic  life. 

But  the  ladies'  imprisonment  in  the  tight  and  snugly 
packed  up  attire  of  the  latest  fashions,  inflicting  even 
suffering  in  the  fervid  temperature  of  the  tropics,  forms 
yet  other  shades  in  this  picture  ;  ease  being  found  at 
home  in  general  looseness,  which  as  a  temporary  relief 
is  doubtless  natural ;  this,  however,  is  not  peculiar  to  the 
Haytian.  The  European  and  North  American,  under 
the  same  circumstances,  throw  up  their  stiffened  order, 
in  the  domestic  retreat,  and  are  compelled  to  sub 
mit  to  the  power  of  heat.  Nevertheless  a  general 
slovenliness  is  matter  of  regret,  whatever  the  cause, 
and  indeed  intolerable. 

Nothing  can  be  more  natural  than  the  shades  of 
the  picture  here  drawn  ;  yet  at  the  same  time,  noth 
ing  can  be  more  sure  than  that  for  want  of  good 
management,  they  constitute  the  source  of  all  the 
domestic  disorder  which  has  ever  been  deplored  in 
Hayti,  and  which  to  endeavor  to  conceal,  would  be 
simply  out  of  place.  Female  education  and  training 
alone  can  correct  these  evils. 

Upon  the  principle,  therefore,  that  the  nation  is 
whatever  the  family  is,  we  may  say  that  whatever 
the  city  homes  are,  such  will  be  the  streets,  etc. 

That  there  are  certain  parts  of  the  most  civilized  and 
polished  cities  of  the  world,  far  worse  than  some  of  the 
streets  of  Port  au  Prince,  as  well  as  other  towns  of  the 


FKOM  HISTORICAL   NOTES.  327 

Republic,  is  well  known ;  but  this  does  not  alter  the 
fact  that  the  streets  of  this  city  are  utterly  unbecom 
ing  of  that  civilization  which  we  have  a  right  to  expect 
in  the  municipal  management  and  care  of  the  Hay- 
tian  capital. 

It  is  singular  that  each  householder  has  a  right  to 
build  over  what  in  England  or  the  States  would  be 
called  the  pavement.  It  is  not  indeed  enclosed  or 
shut  up  from  public  use,  but  an  upper  floor,  support 
ed  by  posts,  is  brought  over  the  pavement,  which  in 
some  cases  may  be  two  feet  above  that  of  its  immediate 
neighbor  ;  so  that  what  is  understood  as  a  pavement 
for  foot  passengers  is  perfectly  out  of  the  question — 
there  being  no  municipal  arrangements  or  interfe 
rence  in  these  matters ;  foot  passengers,  therefore, 
prefer  to  walk  in  the  middle  of  the  street,  rather  than 
have  the  annoyance  of  continually  stepping  up  and 
down. 

The  shades  of  a  picture  are  indeed  necessary,  but 
they  must  be  nicely  touched  and  correctly  placed — 
otherwise  all  would  be  a  failure. 

We  hope,  however,  that  ultimately  well  organized 
systems  of  education,  based  upon  the  modest  and 
virtuous  precepts  of  the  Christian  religion,  which - 
shall  be  brought  to  bear  ere  long  upon  the  female 
part  of  the  population,  will  place  Hayti  at  least  on 
the  way  to  her  destined  hopes.  Meanwhile,  before 
reaching  her  desired  goal,  it  cannot  be  concealed  that 
among  the  lower  classes  great  looseness  prevails,  en 
tering  far  too  much  into  all  the  ramifications  of  pri- 
Tate  life ;  hence  frequently,  where  means  exist,  the 
most  costly  articles  are  thrown  aside  from  sheer  waste 
ful  inattention  and  want  of  economy,  that  useful 


328  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

agent  in  the  management  of  limited  and  hard-earned 
means,  which  perhaps  is  even  looked  upon  as  rather 
a  proof  of  avarice  than  otherwise ;  hence  poverty 
here,  as  in  Europe,  is  made  wretched  by  the  absence 
of  thrift  and  care. 

It  must  not,  however,  be  forgotten  that  lights  as 
well  as  shades  have  already  been  spoken  of,  as  beau 
tifying  and  completing  this  picture  of  national 
manners. 

There  is  a  certain  class  of  the  Haytian  people 
which  are  specially  neat,  clean  and  orderly,  both  in 
their  homes  and  everything  else.  In  some  cases,  this 
has  doubtless  been  transmitted  from  olden  time,  but 
not  in  every  case  in  the  same  direct  and  positive 
manner. 

It  is  worthy  of  notice  that  in  traveling,  even  in 
isolated  places  in  this  Republic,  where  it  might  least 
be  expected,  the  weary  foreigner  or  other  traveler 
will  occasionally  find  a  table  spread  with  the  utmost 
neatness,  inviting  his  taste,  with  also  silver  forks  and 
spoons,  and  a  repast  made  sweet  by  its  simplicity  and 
cleanliness.  It  is  not  pretended  that  this  is  common, 
but  that  it  should  be  so  only  here  and  there,  among 
a  people  so  cut  off  from  general  intercourse  with 
foreigners,  is  remarkable  and  interesting. 

The  Haytian  table  is  altogether  French,  with,  how 
ever,  such  modifications  as  might  be  supposed  to 
result  from  climate  and  various  other  circumstances, 
such  as  tropical  productions,  etc.  On  this  subject 
the  Haytians  may  be  said  to  have  followed  the  gen 
eral  and  perhaps  instinctive  dictates  of  nature  ;  for  it 
must  be  admitted  that  the  tropics  do  not  admit  of 
impunity  in  diet. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES,  329 

The  Haytian  table,  therefore,  may  be  considered 
as  wholesome  and  safe — well  adapted  to  the  conserva 
tion  of  health  in  these  warm  latitudes ;  although  the 
national  habit  of  a  heavy  repast  in  the  evening  after 
sunset,  which  prevails,  is  very  questionable,  and 
doubtless  is  very  frequently  injurious. 

A  slight  and  informal  repast  forms  what  is  termed 
a  first  breakfast ;  towards  mid-day  comes  on  "  Le 
dejuener  a  la  fourchette ;"  but  the  principal  repast, 
dinner,  is  after  business  hours,  which  in  Hayti  is  five 
p.  M.,  and  consequently  runs  late  into  the  evening. 

In  furniture,  it  will  not  be  surprising  if  the  educa 
ted  Haytians  should  display  great  taste,  as  indeed  is 
the  case ;  for  wherever  the  means  exist,  nothing  is 
considered  too  costly  for  embellishment  and  accom 
modation  in  a  respectable  dwelling. 

Carpets  of  woolen  texture,  in  a  continually  warm 
climate,  it  will  be  easily  understood,  are  not  desira 
ble  ;  but  variously  painted  oil  cloths  are  occasionally 
seen,  or  on  the  ground  floor,  marble  will  not  unfre- 
quently  be  seen,  although  its  safety  as  to  health,  in  a 
warm  climate,  is  perhaps  doubtful. 

Bedsteads,  armoirs,  or  clothes  presses,  and  tables, 
are  generally  of  the  splendid  Haytian  mahogany, 
made  frequently  with  great  finish  in  the  country, 
both  by  native  and  foreign  workmen. 

Paintings  of  family  likenesses,  and  native  scenery, 
executed  by  Haytian  artists,  frequently  embellish  the 
parlors  and  halls  of  respectable  dwellings,  some  of 
which  are  good,  others  inferior. 

In  the  national  palace,  as  well  as  the  Senate  house 
and  Cathedral  church,  may  be  seen  many  fair  speci 
mens  of  Haytian  talent ;  and  notwithstanding  the 


330 

failures  of  some,  abundant  evidence  will  be  found  of 
the  existence  of  both  capacity  and  taste  for  the  fine 
arts,  were  they  only  under  suitable  direction ;  but 
wars  and  revolutions  must  cease,  and  peace  must 
afford  prosperity  and  leisure  for  the  cultivation  of 
those  higher  branches  of  civilization.  In  fact,  re 
sources  of  every  kind  exist  both  in  Hayti  as  a  coun 
try,  and  in  the  Haytians  themselves,  as  an  intelligent 
people,  to  sustain  a  high  degree  of  happiness  and 
wealth. 

Music  also  has  engaged  much  of  the  attention  of 
the  Haytians  ;  but  up  to  the  end  of  Soulouque's 
power,  it  must  be  admitted  that  on  this  subject  all 
was  unsatisfactory,  except  that  it  was  evident  that 
both  capacity  and  taste  existed  among  the  Haytians 
for  the  highest  culture  of  this  interesting  branch  of 
human  progress.  It  is,  however,  singular,  that  vocal 
music  should  never  have  formed  any  part  of  the  na 
tional  characteristics  of  Hayti,  notwithstanding  the 
existence  of  a  decided  taste  for  good  and  elevated 
poetry,  of  which  good  specimens  are  not  wanting 
among  the  Haytians. 

The  piano  is  an  important  item  with  all  whose 
means  such  an  instrument  would  become ;  many  also 
both  read  and  execute  music  with  taste  and  style. 

"With  regard  to  furniture,  as  a  general  rule  it  is 
expected  that,  from  the  highest  to  the  lowest,  the 
house  must  be  furnished  according  to  the  means  of 
the  parties  before  the  bridal  day — a  rule  which  in 
itself  is  doubtless  good ;  it  will,  however,  easily  be 
seen  that  in  the  case  of  those  with  scanty  means,  a 
rule  clashing  with  human  pride  would  fail,  and  con 
cubinage  might  be  the  result,  especially  in  a  country 


FKOM  HISTORICAL   NOTES.  331 

where  marriage  is  not  absolutely  exacted,  or  rather 
where  concubinage  is  not  absolutely  frowned  down. 

The  question  of  domestic  servitude  is  at  the  pres 
ent  time  surrounded  by  every  difficulty — nor  can 
this  be  said  to  result  from  ignorance  only ;  still, 
where  mere  ignorance  is  taught,  equality,  without  its 
inevitable  exceptions,  it  is  likely  to  be  misunderstood. 
A  fact  which  simply  shows  that  ignorance  will  un 
derstand  even  sound  principles  in  a  sense  which  will 
degrade  itself,  thus  demonstrating  the  necessity  of 
the  education  in  common  sense  of  the  masses. 

Many  have  attributed  this  domestic  inconvenience 
to  indolence ;  and  in  part,  the  idea  is  no  doubt  cor 
rect  ;  but  there  are  other  causes — false  notions  of 
social  independence,  and  that  supremely  false  notion, 
of  European  origin,  that  labor  is  degrading,  has 
proved  a  serious  obstacle  in  this  important  depart 
ment  of  Haytian  life.  Nor  has  there  been  any  na 
tional  effort  to  teach,  by  means  of  a  really  Christian 
education,  that  vice  only  dishonors.  In  fact,  that 
style  of  education  which  shows,  that  vice  alone  is 
degrading,  has  ever  been  wanting  in  Hayti. 

Funerals,  baptisms,  and  marriages,  form  yet  other 
remarkable  features  in  Haytian  civilization  ;  all  and 
each  of  which  being  attended  with  great  display, 
whenever  the  means  of  the  parties  will  admit  of  it. 

In  any  other  country,  however  important  might 
be  these  landmarks  of  Christian  civilization,  they  are 
viewed  more  as  forming  a  part  of  the  ordinary  train 
of  life  than  otherwise ;  but  in  Hayti  these  events 
stand  prominently  out.  Certain  it  is,  that  in  Xew 
York,  Paris,  or  London,  such  crowds  as  follow  ordi 
nary  funerals  in  Hayti  would  be  impossible,  in  con- 


332  JIAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

sequence  of  the  absorbing  occupations  of  the  people. 
In  Hayti,  such  occasions  are  demonstrations  of  affec 
tion  and  respect ;  and  although  it  is  not  desirable 
that  this  should  be  diminished,  yet  it  is  quite  certain 
that  greater  national  activity  would  decidedly  modify 
these  usages,  however  laudable. 

At  the  death  of  any  one  of  respectability  in  Hayti, 
it  is  the  custom  to  send  round  richly  ornamented 
handbills,  printed  sometimes  with  gorgeous  vignettes, 
announcing  the  family  bereavement,  the  place  from 
whence  the  funeral  should  leave,  the  hour,  and 
whether  the  service  will  be  at  the  Roman  Catholic 
or  Protestant  church.  At  such  time  there  will  be 
a  large  attendance,  whether  the  departed  may  have 
been  Protestant  or  otherwise,  while  the  general  ap 
pearance  will  always  be  genteel  and  respectable. 
Hundreds  will  in  such  cases  follow  the  corpse ;  and 
although  even  richly  attired,  yet  without  the  slightest 
order,  each  one  walking  where  and  as  he  pleases. 
Should  the  funeral  be  that  of  a  Haytian  Protestant, 
the  Roman  Catholic  relatives  and  friends  of  the  de 
ceased  will  not  for  a  moment  hesitate  to  crowd  into 
the  Protestant  place  of  worship,  observing  at  the 
same  time  the  utmost  decorum  during  the  service. 

The  case  of  funerals  is  here  noticed,  as  showing  a 
religious  phase  of  civilization,  which  is  specially 
worthy  the  attention  of  the  English  and  American 
Protestant.  The  solemn  air  which  marks  such  occa 
sions  among  the  above-named  peoples  is  not  seen 
here  ;  that  silence  and  awe  which  the  presence  of 
death  ought  to  command,  is  here  unknown  ;  pleas 
ant  conversations  and  cigar-smoking  go  on,  as  the 
procession  moves  confusedly  along ;  the  bearers  of 


FROM  HISTORICAL   NOTES.  333 

the  dead — if  there  be  no  hearse — will  feel  quite  un 
restrained  as  to  loud  speaking,  or,  with  the  ruder 
classes  of  the  people,  as  to  even  laughter.  These  are 
indeed  painful  facts,  and  they  are  mentioned  here 
purely  to  show  that  religious  culture  on  these  sub 
jects  has  been  neglected  in  Hayti. 

The  awe  of  death  strikes  not  on  minds  untrain'd 
For  fellowship  with  God,  by  heav'n  ordain'd. 

It  is  specially  worthy  of  notice,  that  notwithstand 
ing  Hayti  is  a  Roman  Catholic  country,  there  has 
never  been  any  distinction  as  to  place  of  burial. 
Protestants  and  Catholics  are  buried  in  the  same 
graveyard,  so  that  the  priest  and  the  minister  will 
often  meet  on  the  same  ground. 

Military  honors  are  also  rendered  to  the  Protestant 
soldier,  according  to  his  rank,  as  in  all  other  cases. 
In  fact,  it  may  be  said  that  Roman  Catholic  Hayti 
is,  in  this  matter,  far  in  advance  of  some  of  the  na 
tions  of  Europe. 

At  the  funerals  of  the  uneducated  classes,  the  la 
mentations  and  cries  of  the  bereaved  are  generally 
loud,  even  to  screaming,  so  that  on  some  occasions  it 
is  perfectly  deafening  at  the  grave,  but  among  the 
more  educated  grief  is  suppressed. 

The  honors  which  are  paid  at  the  death  and  fune 
ral  of  a  general,  according  to  European  and  American 
ideas  and  usages,  are  extraordinary  as  to  the  manner 
in  which  all  is  done.  At  the  announcement  of  the 
death  of  a  distinguished  officer,  a  company  of  artil 
lerymen  is  despatched  to  the  house  of  the  deceased 
general  with  a  small  cannon.  This  company  remains 
stationed  before  the  house  of  the  departed,  where,  to 


334: 

the  great  discomfort  of  the  sick  and  nervous  in  the 
neighborhood,  minute  guns  are  fired,  until  the  removal 
of  the  corpse  for  interment,  while  at  the  same  time 
military  music  will  go  on  in  the  house  of  the  dead. 

This  seeming  want  of  reverence  for  the  dead  is 
deeply  painful  to  Protestants  generally,  and  especi 
ally  so  to  foreigners,  on  their  arrival. 

That  death  should  command  so  little  solemnity, 
seems  to  argue  the  absence  of  that  deep  Christian 
feeling  which  Protestants  consider  an  essential  part 
of  the  Christian  religion,  and  wrhich  enters  very 
largely  into  a  really  Christian  style  of  civilization. 

It  is  right  to  note  here,  that  the  funerals  of  Free 
masons  in  Hayti  are  generally  conducted  with  great 
decorum.  On  such  occasions  the  Freemasons  them 
selves  walk  in  single  file,  one  row  or  line  on  each 
side  of  the  street,  with  the  hearse  between  them ; 
thus  affording  very  frequently  an  imposing  sight. 
Ladies,  however,  are  left  with  the  irregular  crowd 
on  these  occasions. 

Marriages  are  generally  numerously  attended  in 
Hayti,  and  are  mostly  celebrated  at  the  house  of  one 
of  the  parties,  or  perhaps  at  the  residence  of  a  friend, 
before  a  well-chosen  and  sometimes  brilliant  com 
pany. 

In  the  Haytian  Republic,  marriage  is  recognized 
by  the  law  as  a  purely  civil  contract.  Hence,  it  is 
not  considered  to  be  valid  unless  performed  by  the 
civil  magistrate — the  religious  part  of  this  institu 
tion  being  apart  from,  and  independent  of,  the  civil 
law.  A  purely  religious  marriage  would  not  be  at 
all  recognized  by  Haytian  law. 

The  civil  magistrate,  therefore,  having  fulfilled  the 


FROM  HISTORICAL   NOTES.  335 

duties  and  formalities  of  the  law,  with  regard  to  the 
marriage  act,  the  Roman  Catholic  calls  in  the  priest, 
or  the  Protestant  calls  in  the  minister;  or,  if  the 
parties  should  be  one  Roman  Catholic  and  the  other 
Protestant,  as  will  occasionally  happen,  then  the  civil 
officer,  priest,  and  minister,  follow  each  other,  thus 
making  the  ceremony  of  a  triple  character.  A  mar 
riage  may  occasionally  take  place  at  the  Roman 
Catholic  church,  or  at  the  Protestant,  but  this  is 
rare. 

At  such  times  another  opportunity  is  afforded  to 
the  Protestant  pastor  of  speaking  faithfully  on  the 
general  question  of  public  morality,  as  essential  to 
the  general  well-being  of  mankind,  and  showing  that 
polygamy  stands  reproved  before  the  fact  that  the 
Creator  gave  to  Adam  but  one  wife,  and  that  a 
faithful  and  well-sustained  monogamy  secures  the 
greatest  amount  of  care  and  watchfulness  over  the 
rising  generation.  In  fact,  such  occasions  bring  out 
the  whole  of  this  great  question,  as  bearing  upon 
the  honor  and  the  true  interests  of  the  human  race. 

Concubinage  in  Hayti  is  doubtless  one  of  the 
many  unhappy  relics  of  those  European  vices  prac 
tised  under  the  withering  shades  of  slavery,  which 
the  Ilaytian  nation  has  never  yet  had  the  moral 
courage  and  power  to  despise,  or  rise  above  entirely. 

The  key  to  the  explanation  of  this  great  evil,  and 
its  long  continuance,  is  doubtless  to  be  found  in  the 
fact,  that  there  has  not  been  that  deep  and  enlight 
ened  religious  conviction  which  leads  to  action,  as  to 
the  imperative  and  absolute  necessity  of  raising 
woman  to  her  right  status  in  society.  As  a  theory 
this  has  never  been  doubted,  although  perhaps  never 


836  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

seriously  entered  into.  Hence,  there  has  been  no 
moving  power  in  carrying  it  out ;  this  would  require 
Christ  rather  than  Voltaire ;  hence,  for  many  years 
female  education  was  comparatively  neglected  in 
liayti,  and  consequently  true  civilization  has  been 
checked  in  its  progress. 

That  there  has  been  great  improvement  in  this 
country,  on  the  subject  now  before  us,  must  be  ad 
mitted,  and  we  may  hope  that  the  time  is  not  far 
distant  when  female  education  in  liayti  will  be  such 
as  to  lead  both  daughters  and  parents  to  look  with 
contempt  upon  concubinage.* 

Much  yet  remains  to  be  accomplished ;  vice  and 
ignorance  are  still  powerful,  and  can  only  "  now  be 
subdued  by  a  generation  or  two  of  laborious  perse 
verance.  It  is  doubtless  beginning  to  be  understood 
that  the  true  interests  of  the  nation  are  found  in 
Christian  domestic  virtue  ;  and  sound  example  will 
ultimately  overcome  those  ruinous  evils  which  have 
so  long  acted  as  a  moral  blight  upon  the  nation. 

Let  it  not,  however,  be  supposed  that  there  are 
no  virtuous  marriages,  or  well-ordered  families  in 
liayti,  where  good  training  and  education  are  objects 
of  the  deepest  solicitude.  There  are  not  wanting  in 
this  country  families  where  no  amount  of  sacrifice 
would  be  deemed  too  great  to  secure  the  educational 
interests  of  the  children  ;  of  this  the  managers  of  the 
Boys'  Wesleyan  Boarding  School  at  Port  au  Prince 
have  had  ample  proof.  In  connection  with  this 
establishment,  parents  have  been  known  to  undergo 

*  "In  fact,  it  must  be  admitted  that,  -with  jregard  to  the  up 
per  and  more  educated  classes  of  society,  legitimate  marriage  is 
now  the  order  of  the  day." — W.  G.  SMITH,  M.  D. 


HISTORICAL  NOTES.  337 

great  privations,  with  long-continued  perseverance, 
in  the  interests  of  their  children ;  while  others,  doubt 
less  thinking  to  do  better  still,  have  sent  their  children 
to  Europe,  and  are  now  beginning  to  send  them  to  the 
United  States  of  America,  being  ready  to  drain  the 
very  last  of  their  resources,  to  secure  for  their  off 
spring  the  advantages  of  science  and  a  good  edu 
cation.  Much,  doubtless,  may  be  hoped  to  result 
from  this  spirit  of  sacrifice  on  the  part  of  the  Haytian 
parents  of  the  better  classes  in  the  interests  of  their 
children,  which,  in  the  best  sense,  is  emphatically  the 
interest  of  the  nation. 

One  of  the  distinguishing  peculiarities  of  the  Hay 
tian  character  conies  out  in  the  fact,  that  schools  of 
real  merit  are  encouraged,  whether  they  are  con 
ducted  by  Roman  Catholics  or  Protestants ;  such  at 
least  has  been  the  case  hitherto.  Nor  is  there  much, 
even  at  the  present,  to  be  feared  from  the  closer  ties 
with  Rome  by  means  of  the  recently  established  Con 
cordat. 

It  is  not  indeed  meant  that  there  is  no  religious 
bigotry  in  Hayti,  as  a  Roman  Catholic  nation,  but  it 
is  here  simply  meant,  that  as  such,  she  has  greatly 
advanced  in  religious  liberty,  and  that  probably  no 
other  nation  of  that  creed  has  ever  surpassed  her  in 
this  great  matter. 

Baptisms  form  another  feature  in  the  national 
usages  of  Hayti.  Sponsors  readily  stand  for  chil 
dren,  and  they  are  really  faithful  and  true  to  the 
solemn  charges  which  they  thus  take  upon  them 
selves,  at  least  as  far  as  the  general  wants  of  the 
child  may  be  concerned,  in  case  of  the  death  of  the 
parents.  In  fact,  special  attentions  are  paid  to  such 


338  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE) 

a  child  under  any  circumstance ;  and  in  the  case  of 
family  poverty,  it  is  frequently  taken  altogether 
under  the  care  of  those  who  stood  for  it  in  baptism. 

It  should  be  observed  here,  that  the  Romish  Church 
receives  all  to  baptism,  legitimate  or  illegitimate. 
Whatever  may  be  the  motive  for  this  indiscriminate 
reception  into  the  Church,  it  must  be  admitted  that 
many  an  unfortunate  child  thus  finds  useful  friends 
in  the  sponsors  which  stand  for  it  in  baptism. 

It  must,  however,  be  admitted,  that  baptism  in 
Hayti,  although  a  solemn  sacramental  rite  of  the 
Romish  Church,  has  been  most  singularly  and  deplor- 
.ably  abused.  Hence,  mills,  steam-engines,  houses, 
etc.,  are  said  to  be  baptised  before  they  are  used. 
This  is  doubtless  an  inexcusable  abuse  of  a  practice 
which  in  its  origin  probably  had  simply  in  view  to 
implore  the  blessing  of  God  in  the  use  of  these  things. 
It  is,  however,  a  lamentable  fact,  that  this  abuse  has 
been  pushed  to  a  fearful  excess  of  folly,  having  de 
generated  into  riot,  etc. 

With  regard  to  the  baptism  of  children,  it  has  not 
unfrequently  been  known  in  Hayti,  that  Roman 
Catholics  have  stood  sponsors  at  Protestant  baptisms, 
and  that  with  a  full  understanding  that  the  child 
should  be  taught  the  Protestant  faith.  Doubtless  a 
Roman  Catholic  Concordat,  should  it  be  continued, 
may  ultimately  change  this  usage.* 

Another  singular  habit  among  the  prevailing  cus 
toms  of  the  country  is  that  of  individuals  and  families 

*  One  of  the  Wesleyan  Missionaries  calling  one  day  on  a  priest 
whose  acquaintance  he  had  formed,  was  specially  welcomed  by  the 
observation  that  he,  the  priest,  but  the  previous  evening  had  had 
his  new  house  baptised. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  339 

sitting  at  the  door  in  the  open  street,  especially  if 
there  be  a  piazza  to  protect  them  from  the  sun.  To  a 
foreigner,  this,  although  not  nnpleasing,  is  remark 
able.  In  the  English  West  Indies,  the  more  retired 
habits  of  English  life  have,  in  this  respect  prevailed, 
but  in  Hayti  the  practice  here  referred  to  is  univer 
sal  throughout  the  Republic.  Climate  has  doubtless 
had  much  to  do  with  this  custom,  although  that  open 
ness  which  is  peculiar  to  French  habits,  has  perhaps 
originated  it.  The  enjoyment  and  ease  of  this  cus 
tom  is  considered  to  be  increased  by  throwing  the 
chair  obliquely  against  a  Avail  or  post,  the  feet  resting 
upon  one  of  its  bars.  Frequently  little  groups  are 
thus  seen  openly  sitting  at  ease,  enjoying  friendly 
converse  in  the  cool  breeze.  It  is  possible  that  this 
custom  has  done  much  to  originate  the  habit  among 
Haytians  of  saluting  all  they  meet,  known  or  un 
known,  the  street  parties  being  numerous,  and  the 
impoliteness  of  passing  on  without  noticing  them 
would  be  quite  likely  ultimately  to  wind  up  a  polite 
ness  of  this  kind  into  a  sort  of  tyranny. 

Suitable  education  and  Christian  moral  training 
forming  the  inner  home,  with  good  public  circulating 
libraries,  had  perhaps  prevented,  or  changed  these 
habits,  and  filled  many  a  lost  hour  in  a  far  different 
manner.  In  fact,  the  want  of  reading  habits  and  the 
love  of  sound  reading,  is  an  absolute  misfortune  to 
any  people.  The  mind  unstrung  must  necessarily 
engender  habits  of  indolence  and  ennui. 

Nor  need  it  be  any  matter  of  surprise  if  liberty, 
that  greatest,  sweetest  gift  of  heaven,  as  to  this  life, 
should  have  been  abused  in  Hayti,  or  if  the  great 
truths  of  human  equality  should  have  been  here  mis- 


340  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

understood.  If  each  Haytian,  when  lie  first  broke 
his  chains,  should  have  felt  as  though  every  town, 
house,  yea,  the  very  atmosphere  were  all  his  own,  it 
would  be  quite  easy  to  forgive  him. 

Chains  suddenly  thus  burst,  would  fill  the  soul 
"With  bounding  raptures,  which  bewilder  all. 

The  general  state  of  the  interior  of  the  country,  as 
to  public  roads,  etc.,  is  another  department  of  great 
importance  in  Haytian  progress  and  general  civili 
zation. 

With  regard  to  the  highways,  the  course  and  di 
rection  from  one  place  to  another  is,  indeed,  plainly 
traced ;  but  the  state  and  quality  of  the  road  depends 
mostly  upon  nature ;  hence,  if  the  soil  be  clayey  the 
road  will,  in  many  places,  be  utterly  impassable 
during  the  rainy  season,  in  consequence  of  such 
depths  of  mud  as  will  not  unfrequently  become  the 
grave  of  unhappy  asses,  traveling  on  with  their  load 
to  the  market — this  animal  being  very  much  in  use 
among  the  country  people  of  Hayti.  In  fact,  these 
little  hardy  creatures  are  well  adapted  to  the  scanty 
means  of  the  Haytian  peasantry ;  hence,  on  market 
days,  they  are  ridden  or  driven  into  all  the  large 
towns  by  hundreds.  It  is  even  an  extraordinary 
sight  to  stand  on  some  of  the  main  roads  of  the  sub 
urbs  of  Port  au  Prince  and  watch  the  long  train  of 
donkeys,  women  and  children,  all  loaded  with  various 
marketable  produce ;  in  fact,  it  is  a  sight  indicating 
no  small  amount  of  energy  and  activity,  and  seems  to 
remind  the  foreigner  that  it  is  rather  a  want  of  judg 
ment  in  the  direction  of  the  national  energies  than 


FKOM    HISTORICAL  NOTES. 

real  indolence,  which  is  so  seriously  injurious  to  the 
countiy. 

The  reparation  of  the  public  roads  is  not  absolutely 
neglected ;  but  whether,  in  many  cases,  it  would  not 
be  better  for  them  to  be  left  alone,  rather  than  to 
have  the  attention  which  they  sometimes  get,  is,  in 
deed,  a  question.  Military  companies  are  sometimes 
sent  out,  by  neighboring  Generals,  to  repair  the  pub 
lic  roads ;  but  this  being  a  task  imposed  without  in 
terest,  it  will  not  be  difficult  to  understand  how  it 
would  be  done.  Piles  are  sometimes  driven  into  the 
ground,  from  one  side  of  the  road  to  the  other,  by 
the  sides  of  which  are  placed,  horizontally,  long  logs 
of  wood — a  most  unhappy  arrangement  for  the 
traveler  and  his  horse,  the  spaces  between  frequently 
endangering  both,  while  the  very  mention  of  a  vehi 
cle  on  such  highways  would  be  entirely  out  of  the 
question.  It  is  difficult  to  suppose  that  such  was  the 
old  French  Colonial  mode  of  repairing  the  public 
ways,  the  roads  in  France  being  generally  very  good  ; 
but,  whatever  might  have  been  the  origin  of  this 
style  of  road-making,  it  is  simply  inexcusable  from 
the  fact  that  stones  are  generally,  if  not  always,  to 
be  found  in  the  neighborhood,  by  which  the  great 
national  boon  of  good  roads  might  be  easily  secured ; 
yet,  up  to  the  present  moment,  the  clumsy  and  even 
dangerous  old  mode  of  reparation  prevails,  although 
probably  it  would  cost  even  less  to  do  better ;  for, 
the  labor  thus  done  in  the  name  of  patriotism  or  the 
State,  is  not,  and  cannot  be  a  sound  motive.  A  man 
may  lay  down  his  life  in  a  battle  for  his  country, 
while  it  could  not  be  expected  that  he  should  drag 
out  a  whole  life  time  in  penury,  with  a  family  hang- 


342 

ing  upon  him,  in  the  name  of  patriotism,  which  does 
not  compensate  him  for  his  labor. 

Hence,  the  friend  of  progress  longs  for  railways  in 
Hajti.  It  is  true,  the  great  question  in  such  a  case 
would  be,  will  it  pay  ?  But  this  question  demands 
reflection.  The  hope  of  success  would,  perhaps,  be 
in  the  fact,  that  railways  create  traveling  and  trans 
port,  and  hence  that  they  create  their  resources. 

That  railways  in  Hayti  would,  in  many  places  pay, 
cannot  be  doubted.  Neighborhoods  might  be  named 
where  the  population  might  be  supposed  to  be  suf 
ficient  for  an  attempt. 

The  countless  swords,  etc.,  which  have  been  pur 
chased  for  Hayti  during  the  last  fifty  years,  to  worse 
than  no  purpose,  turned  in  this  direction,  as  to  their 
costs,  had  doubtless  long  ere  this  have  settled  this 
great  question  by  the  creation  of  incalculable  wealth. 

It  will  be  easily  understood  that  a  people  long  shut 
up  in  themselves,  as  the  Haytians  necessarily  were 
for  their  national  safety,  might,  after  many  years,  fall 
into  a  contracted,  if  not  even  a  despicable  class  of 
ideas..  This,  it  is  to  be  deplored,  has  been  the  case, 
at  least  to  some  extent,  as  to  the  mass  of  the  people  ; 
hence  the  great  adherence  to  old  customs.  That 
such  a  people  should  seem  to  say.  we  do  not  wish  to 
do  better  than  our  brave  and  noble  forefathers,  would 
not  be  very  surprising,  however  deplorable. 

With  regard  to  the  predominancy  of  old  usages, 
we  have  only  to  remember  that  the  plough,  even  yet, 
is  scarcely  known  in  Hayti,  notwithstanding  the 
splendid  plains  which  invite  its  use  ; — up  to  the  pre 
sent  day  each  one  goes  forth  single-handed  with  his 
hoe. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  343 

A  feeble  attempt  at  a  telegraph  at  Port  au  Prince, 
simply  in  the  sense  of  an  experiment,  was  recently 
made ;  but  the  operation  soon  ceased,  there  being  no 
necessity  for  it  in  the  city. 

More  or  less,  however,  has  been  done  in  Hayti. 
Hence,  sewing  machines  are  not  unknown  in  the  Re 
public  ;  steam  engines  also  are  in  use,  for  the  grind 
ing  of  the  sugar  cane  in  the  plains.  Saw  mills,  by 
steam,  have  been  introduced,  although  at  the  present 
time  no  longer  in  operation. 

Perhaps  one  of  the  most  singular  facts  connected 
with  Hayti  at  the  present  moment  is,  the  utter  in 
efficiency  of  the  military  system,  notwithstanding 
the  nation  has  been  more  than  exhausted  in  its  sup 
port  for  more  than  half  a  century  past.  Compared 
with  the  wants  and  advancement  of  the  age,  the 
Haytian  army  is  in  every  sense  in  arrears — being  but 
little  in  advance  of  what  it  was  in  1804.  Nor  are 
the  details  of  military  discipline  very  different  from 
what  they  were  in  the  beginning  of  the  national 
career.  A  centinel  with  his  chair  and  cigar  is  still 
expressive  of  the  disciplinary  tone  of  the  Haytian 
army.  The  Haytians  are,  nevertheless,  ready  for 
both  military  and  every  other  improvement.  Every 
reproach,  up  to  the  present  time,  has  been  due  to 
their  leaders,  who,  in  many  cases,  have  been  far  re 
moved,  by  good  education,  from  ignorance,  and 
might  have  introduced  those  improvements  of  the  age, 
both  in  arms  and  military  tactics,  which  would  have 
made  an  army  of  5,000  men  equal  to  20,000,  and 
thus  have  promoted  immensely  the  agricultural  in 
dustry  and  interests  of  the  country. 

Steam  has  now  began  its  career  in  Hayti ;  hence 


344:  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

coasting  steamers  are,  at  the  present  time,  in  use ; 
and,  to  those  who  have  known  much  of  the  past  in 
this  Republic,  they  are  a  vast  improvement  upon  the 
old  mode  of  traveling. 

The  following  sketch  of  a  coasting  journey,  in  old 
style,  is  found  in  the  journal  of  a  Missionary  already 
named : 

"  On  the  first  of  November,  1843,  in  the  evening,  we  em 
barked  on  board  the  small  coaster  "  St.  Josephe,"  about  seven 
teen  tons,  for  Port  au  Prince,  having  spent  a  week  or  two,  for 
a  change  of  air,  at  Gonai'ves,  with  our  warm-hearted  friends  of 
Cornwall,  in  England.  The  only  accommodation  for  myself, 
rny  wife,  and  child  of  four  years,  was  the  hold  of  the  vessel ; 
before  which  was  placed,  on  the  deck,  the  cooking  stove  ;  so 
that  when  the  wind  blew  awkwardly  for  us,  the  smoke  would 
be  absolutely  insupportable  ;  while,  at  the  same  time,  we  dared 
not  venture  on  deck  for  fear  of  being  roasted  between  the 
cook's  fire  and  the  sun,  there  being  no  awning.  Such  then  was 
traveling  in  Hayti ;  in  fact,  it  was  absolutely  distressing.  To 
wards  the  end  of  the  journey  two  of  the  sailors  quarreled ;  and, 
although  it  came  to  a  fight,  there  really  was  not  room  enough 
on  this  tiny  deck  for  the  operation.  They  could  only  strike 
each  other  with  one  hand,  being  obliged  to  hold  on  to  a  rope 
with  the  other,  otherwise  both  must  have  gone  overboard  for 
want  of  room.  A  more  perfect  release  than  to  get  away  from 
this  miserable  little  floating  den,  and  safely  to  land  at  Port  au 
Prince,  could  scarcely  be  imagined!" 

Among  the  many  strange  customs  prevailing  in 
Hayti,  and  one  which  has  descended  from,  no  one 
knows  who  or  where,  is  that  of  begging  to  be  ex 
cused  on  separating  from  any  one,  either  accidentally 
met  or  otherwise  ;  hence,  the  little  urchin,  frequently 
with  nothing  but  a  shirt  on,  and  that  sometimes  rag 
ged,  having  executed  his  errand  will,  on  leaving,  in 
variably  pray  "  Excusez,"  and,  with  a  gentle  bow, 


FROM  HISTORICAL   NOTES.  345 

gracefully  draw  his  naked  foot  along  the  ground  as 
he  retires ! 

Kaked  children,  in  the  streets,  is  a  sight  to  which 
foreigners  have  to  become  accustomed.  This,  no 
doubt,  is  to  be  attributed  principally  to  climate,  and 
is  probably  more  or  less  prevalent  throughout  the 
tropics.  It  is,  nevertheless,  a  habit  to  be  condemned  ; 
nor  is  it  for  a  moment  to  be  supposed  that  it  could, 
or  would  be  tolerated  among  an  educated  people. 
This  is,  unquestionably,  a  great  evil ;  and  is  one  of 
the  many  roots  of  that  general  looseness  which  pre 
vails  through  the  entire  country,  as  may  be  seen  at 
the  various  streams  where  public  washings  are  car 
ried  on  at  far  too  great  a  sacrifice  of  female  deli 
cacy. 

The  custom  of  using  a  handkerchief  as  a  covering 
for  the  head  is  prevalent  amongst  the  men  of  Hayti, 
and  is  no  doubt  connected  with  the  question  of 
health ;  nevertheless,  the  head  thus  covered  with  a 
handkerchief  closely  tied  on,  and  a  hat  over  all, 
especially  in  the  case  of  a  military  officer,  has  much 
of  the  grotesque  about  it,  whatever  be  the  motive. 

Carriages  are  but  little  used  in  Hayti,  although 
they  are  by  no  means  unknown  in  the  capital.  The 
horse  and  saddle  are  the  chief  means  of  traveling  in 

O 

this  country ;  and  it  must  be  admitted,  that  the  Hay- 
tians,  both  men  and  women,  are  generally  good 
equestrians.  It  is,  however,  to  be  regretted,  that  the 
breed  of  horses  is  almost  entirely  neglected  in  Hayti ; 
yet,  as  pacing  and  easy  riding  horses,  there  are  per 
haps  none  better. 

It  would  be  unjust  to  Hayti  not  to  make  the  fact 
prominent,  that  as  a  people,  the  Haytians  are  re- 


346  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

nowned  for  their  hospitality.  It  would  be  quite  cor 
rect  to  say,  that  tins  is  a  national  characteristic,  and 
contributes  much  to  the  comfort  of  the  weary 
traveler,  who  crosses  the  mountains  and  the  plains 
of  the  interior,  especially  as  taverns  are  rarely  if  ever 
known  or  met  with  in  Hayti;  but  the  cottager's 
dwelling  is  always  thrown  open  to  solicited  hospi 
tality,  and  every  comfort  is  afforded  which  may  be 
at  command. 

The  nurses  of  Hayti  are  overwhelming  in  their 
attention,  and  the  sick  foreigner  is  greatly  soothed 
by  their  unceasing  care.  In  fact,  this  almost  sleep 
less  attention  is  peculiar  to  the  entire  West  Indies. 
This  may  arise  from  an  instinctive  consciousness  that 
sickness  in  the  tropics  is  generally  rapid  in  its  course, 
and  especially  the  fever  of  hot  climates ;  but  what 
ever  be  the  cause,  it  is  admitted  that  the  care  of  the 
sick  in  the  West  Indies  is  much  more  assiduous  than 
in  colder  climates. 

Hayti  and  the  Haytians  present  a  splendid  field 
for  progress  of  every  kind.  With  regard  to  the 
natural  resources  of  the  country,  as  we  have  seen, 
they  are  immense,  whether  we  consider  its  woods,  its 
minerals,  its  commerce,  or  aught  else,  which,  together 
with  its  unbounded  fertility,  might  produce  unlimited 
wealth.  For  this,  however,  there  must  be  peace  and 
perfect  security. 

The  geographical  area,  or  superfices  of  Hayti,  in 
cluding  adjacent  islands,  are  superior  to  those  of 
Ireland.  A  population  of  from  eight  to  ten  millions 
would  leave  yet  room  for  great  increase.  In  fact,  the 
Haytian  territories,  filled  by  a  population  thoroughly 
industrious,  and  more  or  less  educated,  showing  a 


FROM   HISTORICAL  NOTES.  347 

nation  which  would  command  commercial  and  naval 
fleets,  steam  and  otherwise,  of  her  o\vn  construction, 
would  present  a  convincing  spectacle  to  mankind  of 
progress  ;  her  revolutions  would  thus  be  superseded, 
and  become  impossible,  for  want  of  both  time  and 
disposition  ;  while  the  slavery  of  arms,  poverty,  and 
ignorance,  would  cease.  Hayti,  under  favorable  cir 
cumstances,  would  be  quite  equal  to  this. 

Men  must  be  free  to  be  great ;  their  tongues  and 
pens  must  be  free,  and  every  Government  must  listen' 
to  plain  truth  from  an  enlightened  people,  such  as 
the  Haytians  ought  to  be. 

Under  such  circumstances,  thousands  of  the  de 
scendants  of  Africa,  from  all  parts,  would  flock  to  the 
shores  of  Hayti,  bringing  with  them  either  the  wealth 
of  gold,  or  that  which  is  of  yet  greater  worth,  the 
wealth  of  strong  arms,  sound  sense,  and  industry. 

We  have  now,  therefore,  before  us  a  general 
sketch  of  the  social  progress  of  Hayti  during  upwards 
of  sixty  years.  It  is  not  presumed  that  it  is  satis 
factory,  either  on  the  part  of  the  Haytians  them 
selves,  or  of  those  of  their  foreign  friends,  who  have 
been  anxious  spectators  of  their  onward  march. 

Here  we  would  again  repeat,  that  Hayti  must  be 
fairly  judged.  Let  her  origin  and  infancy  as  a  nation 
be  honestly  taken  into  account ;  let  her  progress  be 
viewed  in  connection  with  the  countless  drawbacks 
which  have  clogged  her  course,  in  innumerable  ways; 
swarming  and  powerful  enemies  hovered  round  and 
hung  upon  her,  during  the  struggles  of  her  birth ; 
fearful  elements  also  in  her  own  bosom,  soon  con 
vulsed  her  ;  while  her  masses — without  any  fault  of 
hers — presented  a  mere  chaos  of  ignorance.  Even 


348  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

her  victories  and  final  success  over  the  mighty  power 
with  which  she  had  to  contend,  filled  her  with  vanity 
and  pride,  which  has  never  yet  departed  from  her : 
let  all  these  facts  and  withering  elements  be  taken 
into  account,  and  it  will  be  seen  that  if  Hayti  has 
not  progressed  rapidly  or  satisfactorily,  the  reason  is 
evident ;  while  at  the  same  time  let  it  be  candidly 
admitted,  that  she  has  fairly  demonstrated  her  pos 
session  of  all  the  elements  of  true  civilization. 

The  most  advanced  countries  of  the  age  have 
required  many  centuries  to  reach  their  present  status, 
and  although  they  had  not  at  their  starting  all  the 
surroundings  of  science,  etc.,  which  Hayti  has  had,  it 
must  not  be  forgotten  that  she  started  from  an  im 
mensely  remote  point  in  civilization,  and  under  cir 
cumstances  as  unfavorable  as  could  well  be  imagined. 
Nor  is  it  to  be  expected  that  with  the  greatest  advan 
tages  she,  in  little  more  than  half  a  century,  should 
accomplish  what  has  been  with  others  the  work  of 
ages;  and  yet  many  of  them  are  still  greatly  in 
arrears  as  to  really  free  institutions. 

Another  peculiar  feature  in  the  Haytian  commu 
nity,  is  the  fact,  that  an  immense  amount  of  business 
is  done  by  women. 

This  no  doubt  originated  in  the  fact,  that  the 
military  service  has  been  such  as  to  take  the  men 
away  from  their  homes;  hence,  in  the  agricultural 
districts,  the  women  and  children  principally  reap 
the  crops  of  coffee,  which  is  the  staple  article  of  ex 
portation,  and  which,  during  the  year,  requires  but 
little  care  or  attention.  In  fact,  it  will  be  easily  seen, 
that  in  the  absence  of  the  men,  the  whole  toil  must 
devolve  upon  the  women. 


FKOM   HISTORICAL  NOTES.  349 

111  the  towns  the  women  are  engaged  in  general 
retail  business ;  and  it  must  be  admitted  that  some 
of  them  show  great  tact  in  this  branch  of  industry. 
Credit  to  an  immense  amount  is  sometimes  given 
them  by  the  great  merchants,  and  wealth  to  a  great 
amount  is  in  many  cases  accumulated.  Indeed  it 
may  be  said,  that  the  Haytian  women  are  really  com 
mercial,  a  fact  which  has  perhaps  had  more  to  do 
with  the  peculiar  cast  of  Haytian  civilization  than 
we  are  apt  to  think. 

Let  it  only  be  imagined  that  the  mothers  of  a  com 
munity  are  absorbed  in  commerce,  and  it  will  be 
easily  understood  that  domestic  training  must  suffer, 
if  not  entirely  disappear.  This  may  be  industry,  as 
indeed  it  is,  and  in  itself  perfectly  laudable ;  but  the 
system  is  unhappy. 

A  nation  of  families,  formed  upon  this  model,  will 
and  must  be  wanting  in  one  of  the  main  branches  of 
really  Christian  civilization,  and  in  fact,  in  nearly  all 
that  relates  to  the  best  formation  of  the  domestic 
circle. 

It  is  quite  certain  that  a  large  family,  fully  and 
minutely  cared  for,  by  an  entire  and  assiduous  atten 
tion  to  all  the  endless  wants  of  domestic  life,  would 
quite  absorb  every  moment  of  a  mother's  care,  and 
that  care  being  almost  universally  wanting,  the  entire 
nation  suffers,  and  the  national  style  of  civilization 
will,  to  a  great  extent,  be  shaped  by  this  fact. 

The  mothers  of  a  nation  give  it  form 
And  shape. 

What,  under  sucli  circumstances  of  domestic  pri- 


350  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

vation,  will  be  the  position  of  the  rising  generation 
of  girls  ?  The  fathers  are  absent ;  neither  word,  nor 
look,  nor  influence,  can  therefore  be  expected  from 
that  quarter.  The  mothers  are  indeed  present,  but 
the  formation  of  their  homes,  in  any  truly  domestic 
sense,  cannot  even  be  expected  from  them. 

The  diffusion  of  true,  well  founded  moral  principle, 
as  superseding  mere  nominal  or  national  creeds, 
which  can  never  bind,  will  ultimately  be  the  true 
and  great  corrective  in  all  that  relates  to  the  vital 
interests  and  real  elevation  of  Hayti. 

The  subject  of  divorce  unquestionably  stands  closely 
connected  with  the  great  question  of  Christian  civili 
zation,  and  therefore  demands  here  a  passing  thought. 

Any  law  in  a  community  tending  in  any  sense  to 
lower  the  dignity  of  marriage,  or  in  any  way  to  les 
sen  the  importance  of  that  institution,  is  deeply  to  be 
deplored,  as  affecting  most  unhappily  not  only  the 
general  position  of  woman  in  society,  but  also  as 
lowering  the  standard  of  genuine  civilization,  and 
thus  opposing  the  elevating  purposes  of  the  great 
Lawgiver,  with  regard  to  the  human  family  at  large, 
both  numerically  and  also  with  regard  to  physical 
and  mental  development. 

Nevertheless,  divorce  is  obtained  in  Hayti  with 
comparative  ease,  marriage  being  simply  a  civil  con 
tract,  and  only  existing  at  all  in  the  eye  of  the  law, 
when  performed  by  the  civil  magistrate  ;  neither  the 
priest  nor  the  minister  are,  in  any  legal  sense,  recog 
nized.  It  is  not  in  any  sense  performed  in  the  name 
of  God,  who  himself  established  it  in  the  garden  of 
Eden,  but  essentially  in  the  name  of  human  law, 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  351 

and  with  the  understanding  that  that  law  is  not 
immutable. 

It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  the  great  principles 
of  the  marriage  institution  are  but  little,  if  ever, 
dwelt  upon  by  the  Romish  clergy,  when  they  are 
called  upon  to  perform  this  solemn  rite.  If  on  such 
occasions  the  bearings  of  this  great  institution  on 
general  civilization  had  by  the  national  clergy  been 
habitually  explained,  during  the  course  of  more  than 
half  a  century  past,  doubtless  it  had  not  been  in  vain, 
and  probably  the  national  morality  had  been  of  a 
higher  tone.  Bat  the  Roman  Catholic  clergy  have 
generally  contented  themselves  with  the  mere  cere 
monies  of  the  church,  which  leave  the  heart  un 
touched,  and  the  mind  unformed ;  hence  the  higher 
duties  on  the  subject  of  marriage,  and  the  develop 
ment  of  its  importance,  have  been  left  to  the  Pro 
testant  clergy,  who,  deeming  mere  ceremonies  to  be 
utterly  useless,  have  generally  aimed,  on  such  occa 
sions,  at  laying  before  the  Ilaytian  community  the 
ruinous  evils  of  libertinage,  concubinage,  and  un- 
scriptural  divorce,  at  the  same  time  showing  the  ele 
vating  power  of  marriage  in  all  respects  upon  society. 

That  laxity  on  so  vital  a  point  should  be  without 
its  unhappy  effects  on  the  general  moral  character 
of  the  nation,  is  not  to  be  supposed.  Negligence 
upon  this  point  will  inevitably  tell  upon  the  coming 
generation,  and  ultimately  lead  to  vice  and  great 
unhappiness,  the  more  so  in  a  community  where 
infidel  principles  have  so  much  shaken  the  public 
mind  and  conscience  as  to  the  claims  and  authority 
of  Christianity. 


352  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE. 

The  diffusion  of  true  religion,  as  superseding  mere 
national  and  nominal  creeds,  demands  therefore  the 
most  serious  consideration  of  the  Haytian  people,  as 
affording  the  only  hope  of  the  universal  practice  of 
sound  principle  on  this  great  question. 


CIIAPTEE    XII. 

Soulouque  falls.— Geffrard  the  choice  of  the  People.— Geffrard  slips 
into  Port  an  Prince. — Hayti  Representative. — Exclusive  Creed. — • 
The  masses  as  they  ever  were.  -Cannibals  executed.  -Youths  sent  to 
Europe  by  the  Government. — Steamers  now  familiar  to  Port  au 
Prince. — The  long  Wharf. — Water  works  commenced. — Blowing 
up  of  the  Arsenal. — Introduction  of  Gas. — The  Foundry. — Im 
provements  in  Music. — Haytian  Markets. — Prisons. — Penitenti 
ary. — Religious  Liberty.— Concordat. — Boyer  blameable.— Pro 
testant  statistics. — Methodist  Financial  Committee. — New  posi 
tion  of  the  United  States. — Call  upon  the  Churches. 


The  prison  of  a  gloomy  empire  falls, 
And  day  again  upon  the  captives  dawns, 
Happy  if  now  their  brighter  lot  they  know  ! 

THE  fall  of  the  Emperor  Soulouque  may  be  con 
sidered  as  a  great  national  event  in  Hayti ;  notwith 
standing  nothing  could  be  more  natural  or  even  inev 
itable,  for  the  voice  of  Providence  seemed  to  say : 
"So  far  shalt  thou  go,  and  no  further!" 

At  one  time  there  was  more  or  less  reason  to 
think  that  the  Empire  was  strong  and  firm  ;  but  des 
potism  was  unquestionably  its  soul,  and  it  finally 
served  as  a  lesson  for  those  who  are  ever  harping 
upon  the  necessity  of  an  iron  rule  in  Hayti.  In  the 
Empire,  as  a  system  of  government,  there  was  iron 
enough.  Doubtless  a  firm  hand  is  needed  in  Hayti, 
as  well  as  elsewhere  ;  but  an  iron  one  has  never  yet 
succeeded  among  these  lovers  of  liberty  and  equality. 


354:  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

In  fact,  even  in  Hayti,  the  Empire,  as  a  system  of 
government,  was  behind  the  times ;  and  the  spirit  of 
the  educated  classes,  even  those  of  them  who  were 
the  friends  of  hard  rule,  as  well  as  the  sunken  masses, 
which  at  one  time  half  worshiped  the  Emperor  and 
his  hollow  dignities,  gradually  grew  cold,  and  ulti 
mately  opened  their  eyes,  at  least  in  some  degree,  to 
the  fact  that  a  Chief,  without  any  education  what 
ever,  was  a  misfortune  to  a  people  ;  besides  which,  the 
great  military  marches,  North,  East,  and  South,  so 
often  repeated  during  this  gloomy  reign,  became  at 
last  utterly  insupportable  to  every  class  of  the 
nation.  A  move,  therefore,  to  shake  off  this  fearful 
incubus,  was  ultimately  the  result;  and  General 
GefFrard  became  the  choice  of  a  Provisional  Govern 
ment,  formed  on  the  22d  of  December,  1858,  at 
Gonaives. 

At  the  commencement  of  this  movement,  great 
fears  were  entertained  of  a  struggle  between  the  Im 
perial  troops  and  the  Republican  army,  now  forming 
under  General  Geffrard,  especially  as  it  was  quite 
understood  that  the  Emperor  would  most  certainly 
maintain  a  fierce  conflict ;  nor  can  it  be  doubted  that 
this  was  his  intention,  hence  his  great  preparations 
for  what  appeared  to  be  a  great  and  fully  intended 
blow  ;  but  however  determined  may  have  been  this 
crowned  chief,  his  subjects  were  now  exhausted  as  to 
farther  patience  both  with  Imperialism  and  its  des 
potism  ;  and  this  movement  against  the  Empire,  while 
it  was  well  and  efficiently  directed,  was  so  completely 
backed  by  the  spirit  of  the  nation,  that  success  be 
came  certain. 

The  Republicans  leaving  Gonaives,  and  taking  St. 


FROM  HISTORICAL  NOTES.  355 

Mark's,  gradually  approached  the  capital,  under  their 
newly-chosen  President. 

The  Imperialists  had  sallied  out  once  or  twice  to 
meet  the  advancing  forces  ;  but  all  their  efforts  being 
useless  against  the  Republican  arms,  they  returned, 
and  shutting  themselves  up  in  the  city,  artillery  and 
infantry  were  planted  wherever  they  could  command 
the  roads  by  which  the  Republicans  might  enter  the 
capital. 

But  all  was  now  hopeless ;  the  sceptre  had  evi 
dently  been  wrenched  from  the  grasp  of  an  unfit 
hand  ;  and  during  the  night  of  the  15th  of  January, 
1859,  General  Geffrard  entered  the  city  of  Port  au 
Prince,  at  an  unguarded  point,  which  he  knew 
well  where  and  how  to  find ;  and  the  formidable 
army  for  the  support  of  the  Empire  literally  and 
promptly  vanished — not  a  man  stood  by  the  falling 
power. 

Soulouque  had  imprisoned  Mrs.  Geffrard,  with  the 
hope  of  forcing  her  to  give  information  of  her  hus 
band,  who  he  knew  had  fled  or  was  concealed.  As 
might  easily  be  supposed,  the  monarch  ignominiously 
failed  in  this  base  effort ;  and  the  conqueror,  on  en 
tering  the  city,  broke  open  the  prison  doors  for  his 
devoted  wife  and  daughters,  the  latter  having  volun 
tarily  followed  their  mother.  The  political  prisoners 
also  were  liberated,  and  some  of  them  soon  proclaim 
ed  through  the  streets  the  heart-breaking  tales  of  ten, 
twelve,  or  more  years  suffering. 

There  was  great  wisdom  in  choosing  a  dark  night, 
for  the  great  national  metamorphoses  from  Imperial 
ism  to  Republicanism  ;  for  while  the  shades  of  night 
made  it  easier  for  the  victors,  they  also  conveniently 


356  HAYTI  AN   INDEPENDENCE, 

concealed  the  wholesale  desertion  from  the  Imperial 
army,  which  took  place  at  such  a  rate  that  even  be 
fore  sunrise  that  morning,  Imperialism  had  utterly 
disappeared,  leaving  Republicanism  as  complete  as 
though  such  a  thing  as  a  crown  had  never  been  heard 
of  in  Hayti ;  except,  indeed,  that  the  unfortunate 
Emperor  was  now  a  prisoner  in  his  own  capital.  He, 
however,  was  allowed  to  take  refuge  at  the  French 
Consulate,  with  his  suite,  etc.,  from  whence  he  em 
barked  on  board  the  "  Melbourne,"  an  English  trans 
port,  for  Jamaica. 

It  is  not  intended  here  to  enter  into  minute  detail, 
with  regard  to  the  state  of  things  in  Hayti  at  this 
time,  although  it  might  be  exceedingly  interesting  to 
do  so ;  nevertheless  a  general  outline  of  things  is  due 
to  the  many  friends  abroad  who  have  long  watched, 
and  are  still  watching,  the  onward  movements  of  this 
important  though  small  Republic  ;  we  say  important, 
because,  however  unworthy,  Hayti  is  a  representative 
nation,  as  to  the  African  branch  of  the  human  race. 

At  the  time  of  the  arrival  at  power  of  General 
Geffrard,  it  will  be  admitted  that  Hayti  had  sunk  to 
a  low  level,  as  to  general  progress  and  development ; 
not  indeed  from  any  designedly  evil  course  pursued 
by  the  former  Imperial  Government,  although  its 
corruptions  were  confessedly  great,  but  simply  be 
cause  the  ruling  elements  had  been  for  some  dozen 
years  altogether  in  arrears  of  the  age.  Yet  it  is  pro 
bable,  not  to  say  certain,  that  the  best  intentions 
existed,  especially  with  some,  but  the  knowledge 
necessary  for  leading  the  country  on  in  the  general 
improvements  of  the  day  was  wanting,  not  indeed  in 
certain  classes  of  the  country,  but  simply  on  the  part 


FKOM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  357 

of  those  who  really  had  the  reins  of  power,  and  who, 
by  sheer  force  of  terror,  had  silenced  both  tongues 
and  pens  ;  hence  the  failure  as  to  real  progress  in 
Hayti  was  as  natural  as  it  was  great. 

General  Geffrard  therefore  came  into  power  amidst 
a  chaos  of  things,  and  it  will  be  admitted  that  the 
efforts,  at  the  commencement  of  his  Presidency,  for 
an  onward  movement,  were  great  and  laudable, 
giving  signs  of  real  vitality,  and  affording  great  hopes 
for  the  future. 

One  of  the  first  great  measures  of  the  new  Govern 
ment  was  in  favor  of  education  ;  and  it  must  be  ac 
knowledged  that  the  views  taken  of  this  great  mea 
sure,  and  the  scale  of  operations  proposed,  although 
not  embracing  the  rural  masses,  was  extensive,  and 
much  was  unquestionably  done.  Both  sexes  shared 
in  the  solicitude  of  the  Government,  as  to  the  estab 
lishment  of  public  schools ;  and  perhaps  it  may  be 
safely  said,  that  in  a  short  time  it  was  found  that 
education  had  never  before  existed  on  such  an  ex 
tended  scale  in  Hayti. 

The  nature  and  bearing  of  this  effort  for  the  rising 
generation,  is  another  question.  Whether  the  moral 
culture  which  was  brought  into  action  in  this  case, 
was  of  that  elevating,  ennobling,  and  unsectarian 
character,  which  would  be  desired  and  sought  by 
many,  in  both  America  and  Europe,  is  doubtful.  The 
national  clergy  was  expected  to  visit  the  various 
schools  thus  brought  into  existence ;  hence  the  idea 
of  moral  culture  in  Hayti,  did  not  aim  at  more  than 
the  formation  of  a  national,  Romish  and  exclusive 
creed  ;  and  notwithstanding  the  now  greatly  enlarged 
sphere  of  education,  it  is  doubtful  whether  in  this 


358  HATTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

Ilaytlan  population  of  some  700,000  souls,  more  than 
10,000  were  ever  at  any  time  receiving  the  advan 
tages  of  education,  if  indeed  so  many.  Neither  the 
great  masses  of  the  interior,  or  even  of  the  towns, 
were  yet  reached  ;  in  fact,  the  day  has  not  yet  come 
for  this  .Republic,  when  shame  of  ignorance  as  to  a 
degraded  mass,  compels  the  ruling  power  to  see  that 
every  child  in  the  nation  should  be  taught  to  read. 
Happy  will  it  be  for  Hayti,  when  the  liberty  to  be 
ignorant  within  herself  shall  cease  ! 

Nevertheless  it  will  be  admitted  that  this  Govern 
ment  struck  the  most  powerful  blow  which  had  ever 
been  given  in  this  country,  to  one  of  its  still-existing 
African  superstitions. 

It  is  not  to  be  concealed  that  Yaudouism — a  super 
stitious  dance,  of  African  origin — is  still  followed  and 
practised  by  many  of  the  long-neglected  masses  of 
Hayti,  not  only  in  the  interior,  but  also  in  the  capital 
of  the  Republic.  This  dance  has  a  religious  bearing, 
and  involves  the  eating  of  human  flesh,  supposed  to 
be  sacrificed  to  the  god  Yaudoux. 

A  most  unhappy  case  of  this  nature  coming  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  new  Government,  was  brought  into 
the  Criminal  Court,  where  it  was  proved  that  a  child 
had  been  stolen,  murdered,  and  eaten,  not  from  want, 
but  in  the  name  of  Yaudoux.  The  guilty  parties — 
eight  in  all,  among  whom  were  several  women — hav 
ing  been  fairly  tried,  were  brought  out  and  publicly 
shot,  as  an  act  of  security  to  society. 

The  justice  of  this  dreadful  example  is  of  course 
not  to  be  questioned ;  but  it  remains  equally  certain 
that  neither  Hayti  nor  any  other  country  can  be  mo 
rally  regenerated  by  such  means.  The  opening  of 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  359 

the  eyes  of  the  masses,  by  means  of  Christian  primary 
education  in  early  life,  is  the  great  hope  in  such 
cases  ;*  and  it  is  infinitely  to  be  deplored  that  the  full 
consciousness  of  the  existence  of  this  wide-spread  evil 
in  the  Republic,  has  never  been  sufficient  to  rouse 
both  the  Government  and  every  enlightened  citizen, 
to  such  activity  as  would  sweep  away  an  iniquity  so 
degrading  to  the  whole  nation,  by  those  educational 
means  so  clearly  pointed  out  by  the  common  sense  of 
mankind,  and  which  God  has  so  fully  placed  within 
the  reach  and  power  of  every  enlightened  and  well- 
disposed  Government.  If,  therefore,  ignorance  is  a 
nuisance  in  a  Christian  Republic,  then  let  the  educa 
tion  of  every  child  in  the  nation  be  obligatory. 

With  the  idea  either  that  it  would  be  impossible  to 
educate  the  whole  nation  individually,  or  that  it 
would  be  good  policy  for  the  masses  to  remain  as 
they  are,  at  least  for  the  present,  it  has  always  been 
the  aim  of  each  Government  to  form  a  national  nu 
cleus  of  intelligence  ;  and  it  must  be  admitted  that 
great  success  has  attended  the  education  given  with 
these  limited  views.  It  must,  however,  be  remem 
bered  that  the  success  here  referred  to  is  of  a  purely 
mental  character ;  the  moral  element  being  entirely 
neglected,  as  to  anything  like  formal  culture ;  yet  a 
sufficient  number  of  intelligent  men  and  women  have 
been  raised,  to  give  the  fullest  assurance  of  what 
would  have  resulted  from  the  individual  education 
of  the  nation.  The  inevitable  result,  however,  of 

"  It  is  a  fact  well  known  that  this  public  act  of  justice  was 
utterly  without  effect,  except  that  it  made  the  practice  more  secret ; 
hence  similar  cases  have  occurred  since.  The  god  Vaudoux,  in 
these  dark  minds,  must  yield  to  the  true  God. 


360 

such  a  course  long  pursued,  would  be  the  formation 
of  a  species  of  aristocracy,  which  in  a  Republic 
where  the  most  ignorant  have  from  the  beginning 
been  taught  an  absolute  equality,  would  operate  most 
injuriously,  in  innumerable  ways — as,  in  fact,  it 
has  done. 

At  the  restoration  of  the  "Republic,  a  resolution 
well  worthy  of  notice  was  adopted,  which  was  that 
of  sending  a  number  of  intelligent  youths  to  France, 
for  the  purpose  of  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  differ 
ent  branches  of  industry.  The  idea  was  doubtless 
good,  but  the  results  of  such  laudable  measures  have 
hitherto  been  frustrated  by  the  military  system, 
which  has  so  long  drawn  into  its  ruinous  vortex  the 
entire  youth  of  the  nation. 

It  is  true  that  with  regard  to  national  education, 
in  the  full  and  entire  sense  of  the  expression,  Hayti 
has  failed.  Nevertheless  she  has  so  far  succeeded  as 
to  demonstrate  her  entire  capacity  to  represent,  with 
her  younger  sister  Republic,  Liberia,  the  African 
branches  of  the  human  family. 

It  is  worthy  of  notice,  with  regard  to  the  last- 
named  Republic,  that  at  its  capital,  Monrovia,  there 
now  exists  an  university,  on  an  entirely  efficient  scale, 
witli  the  power  of  distributing  literary  honors,  and 
having  as  its  just  and  natural  source  the  education 
of  the  masses. 

Had  the  national  mind  of  Hayti  leaned  this  way, 
her  superior  pecuniary  resources  had  made  the  same 
great  national  glory  easy  of  acquisition,  long  since. 

The  hopes  of  Hayti  were  perhaps  never  more  rais 
ed  than  they  were  by  the  great  movements  of  the 
22d  December,  1858,  as  may  be  easily  imagined, 


FROM   HISTORICAL  NOTES.  361 

when  it  is  remembered  that  they  so  hopefully  dis 
persed  the  long  night  of  despotism,  under  the  name 
of  an  Imperial  Monarchy. 

Doubtless  the  desire  for  progress  of  every  kind,  so 
ardently  manifested  at  that  time,  both  by  the  Govern 
ment  and  people,  was  perfectly  honest  and  sincere. 
Much  was  proposed,  and  much  was  set  on  foot,  but 
the  true  rigor  of  sound  moral  principle  was  wanting. 

Among  a  vast  variety  of  undertakings,  attention 
was  soon  turned  to  a  small  steam  navy,  and  also  to 
the  establishment  of  a  line  of  coasting  steamers,  the 
latter  being  done  by  the  organization  of  a  native 
Steam  Navigation  Company,  to  be  encouraged  by  a 
yearly  grant  from  the  Government,  to  whose  call 
they  should  be  held  in  case  of  necessity. 

The  present  improvement  is  the  more  acceptable  to 
the  public,  from  the  fact  that  it  is  on  a  fair  commer 
cial  principle,  depending  thus  on  its  own  merits  and 
worth  for  success,  and  it  is  hoped  that  ultimately  it 
will  be  fully  developed,  extending  its  operations  to 
the  entire  Island,  including  both  the  French  and 
Spanish  parts. 

There  may  be,  therefore,  now  seen  in  the  harbor  of 
Port  an  Prince,  three  naval  steamers  in  the  service 
of  the  Government,  and  five  coasting  steamers  be 
longing  to  the  private  Haytian  Steam  Navigation 
Company,  already  referred  to ;  nor  can  it  be  denied 
that  this  is  a  great  advance  upon  the  past. 

To  those  who  ar~  accustomed  to  see  forests  of 
masts,  commerciaK.nd  naval,  these  notes  may  indeed 
appear  trivial ;  but  by  those  who  know  anything  of 
the  infancies  of  new  countries,  the  few  steamers  al 
ready  upon  the  Haytian  waters,  and  under  the  Hay- 


362  HAYTTAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

tian  flag,  will  be  greatly  appreciated,  as  affording 
mucli  hope  for  the  future  ;  and  in  fact,  with  regard 
to  the  coasting  steamers,  it  is  greatly  to  be  hoped 
that  when  military  duties  shall  either  have  ceased 
altogether,  or  shall  have  been  reduced  within  reason 
able  limits,  they  will  become  commensurate  in  num 
bers,  etc.,  with  the  great  resources  which  nature 
everywhere  offers  in  Hayti — affording  at  the  same 
time,  as  they  will,  greater  facilities  for  more  constant 
and  extensive  intercourse  with  the  various  seaports  of 
this  great  Island, 

Also  with  foreign  countries,  intercourse  by  steam 
ers  now  began  to  assume  an  interesting  and  promis 
ing  importance ;  the  Haytian  Government  at  the 
same  time  showing  every  disposition  to  encourage 
this  increased  intercourse  with  the  world  by  yearly 
grants,  which  in  certain  cases  were  made,  thus  bring 
ing  America,  England,  and  France  into  closer  and 
more  extensive  commercial  connection  with  this  little 
Republic. 

The  fact  of  several  commercial  steamers  carrying 
on  a  successful  business  with  this  Republic,  may  be 
considered  as  proof  of  the  resources  of  Hayti,  which 
are  now  beginning  to  be  practically  known.  One 
result  of  this  increased  intercourse  at  Port  an  Prince 
may  be  seen  by  immense  enlargements  for  commer 
cial  accommodations  at  the  custom  house  of  that  capi 
tal,  and  also  the  remarkable  addition  of  a  wharf,  ad 
vancing  into  the  sea  some  600  feet,  with  tram-ways, 
etc.,  for  facilitating  the  transport  of  goods  from  the 
shipping  to  the  custom  house. 

Progress  and  improvement  as  to  ocean  communi 
cation  is  now  therefore  a  fact ;  but  with  regard  to 


FROM  HISTORICAL   NOTES.  363 

interior  communications,  not  only  is  there  a  total 
absence  of  steam,  as  to  public  railways,  but  the  ordi 
nary  highways,  as  we  have  already  noted,  are  pre 
cisely  as  they  have  been  from  the  beginning,  except 
that  they  have  generally  deteriorated  in  all  respects. 

It  is  true  that  with  regard  to  public  railways  for 
general  traveling,  it  is  very  greatly  doubted,  and 
perhaps  by  competent  judges,  whether  the  popula 
tion  of  the  Republic  is  sufficiently  dense  to  warrant 
any  attempt  of  this  kind,  on  any  large  scale ;  in  fact, 
any  attempt  on  a  large  scale  would  perhaps  be  impos 
sible,  without  foreign  capital. 

One  great  fact,  which  might  afford  some  reason  to 
believe  that  railways  in  this  country  might  answer 
better  than  is  generally  thought,  is  that  an  immense 
amount  of  produce  is  utterly  lost  in  the  interior, 
simply  for  want  of  means  of  transport.  In  the  present 
state  of  the  public  roads,  heavy  timbers  of  great 
value  are  lost ;  immense  mud  holes,  dug  by  heavy 
rains,  embarrass  on  no  small  scale  the  very  interests 
of  the  country  ;  whether  the  amount  of  property  lost 
by  such  impossibilities  of  traveling,  would  not  greatly 
help,  in  the  way  of  compensation,  is  at  least  worthy 
of  consideration.  In  fact,  railways  bringing  to  the 
various  seaports  of  the  Republic  the  great  timbers  of 
the  interior,  where  public  saw-mills  might  be  estab 
lished,  would  create  great  industry  in  the  country, 
and  at  the  same  time  greatly  increase  the  supply  of 
its  own  wants,  as  well  also  as  its  exports. 

Under  the  restored  Republic,  it  was  in  contempla 
tion  to  establish  water  works  for  the  capital,  on  such 
a  scale  as  should  meet  the  wants  and  necessities  of 
the  whole  city,  not  only  as  to  ordinary  supplies  for 


364:  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

the  population,  but  as  the  best  protection  against 
those  fearful  conflagrations  which  must  long  be  inevi 
table  among  an  uneducated,  untrained,  and  conse 
quently  careless  mass,  where  almost  a  whole  popu 
lation  may  be  said  to  be  ever  on  the  move,  with 
lighted  cigars,  whether  at  the  carpenter's  bench, 
among  bales  of  cotton,  or  otherwise. 

It  is  right  to  notice  that  this  great  enterprise  was 
not  simply  proposed,  but  really  commenced,  by  the 
Geffrard  Government.  Immense  sums  were  applied 
to  this  purpose,  and  the  whole  work  begun,  by  the 
importation  of  a  large  amount  of  piping  and  general 
apparatus.  The  great  reservoir  was  dug,  and  greatly 
advanced  as  to  the  mason  work. 

This  may  be  considered  as  a  great  and  laudable 
undertaking,  and  when  fully  carried  out  and  com 
pleted,  will  doubtless  be  an  immense  stride  in  general 
progress.  For  the  present,  however,  it  is  greatly  to 
be  deplored  that  circumstances  have  checked  the  pro 
gress  of  this  admirable  and  greatly-needed  undertak 
ing.  National  troubles  intervened,  and  all  was  sus 
pended  ;  hence  the  great  fire  of  1866  had  full  range, 
a  fourth  of  the  city  being  entirely  consumed. 

Another  sad  proof  of  national  carelessness  occurred 
about  4:  A.  M.  of  the  12th  of  September,  1866,  when 
the  arsenal  blew  up.  This  event  was  indeed  one  of 
the  most  fearful  nature.  Upwards  of  30,000  Ibs.  of 
powder  exploded,  which  covered  the  entire  city  with 
every  description  of  shot,  some  of  the  heavy  ones 
damaging  the  houses,  and  all  more  or  less  threaten 
ing  human  life.  At  the  hour  mentioned,  the  whole 
town  was  alarmed ;  but  what  at  first  seemed  to  be 
the  shock  of  an  earthquake,  was  soon  explained  by 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  365 

whizzing  balls,  etc. ;  bolts  were  started  a  mile  distant 
by  this  dreadful  shock  ;  some  lives  were  lost,  but  not 
many  ;  an  immense  amount  of  property  was  destroy 
ed.  It  was  said  by  those  who  remembered  the  simi 
lar  explosion  which  occurred  nearly  forty  years  pre 
vious  to  this  one,  that  the  latter  was  more  terrific 
than  the  former.  In  the  present  case,  many  houses 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  arsenal  were  literally 
shattered  to  pieces ;  and  in  fact,  through  a  great  part 
of  the  city,  many  houses  were  seriously  injured. 
That  so  few  lives  should  have  been  lost,  in  so  fearful 
a  catastrophe,  is  surprising. 

During  1861,  an  attempt  was  made  on  a  small 
scale  to  introduce  gas-light  into  the  city  of  Port  au 
Prince,  of  which  the  following  are  a  few  historical 
notes : — 

In  1859,  the  Wesleyan  Missionary,  long  residing 
in  the  above  named  capital,  visited  the  United  States 
of  America,  on  his  way  to  England,  his  native  coun 
try,  with  his  family,  after  nearly  twenty  years'  resi 
dence  in  Hayti.  In  both  the  States  and  Europe  he 
pleaded  the  cause  of  female  education  in  the  country 
of  his  long  residence,  with  the  intention,  on  his  return, 
of  establishing  a  public  seminary  for  this  purpose,  on 
such  a  footing  as  should  have  been  an  honor  both  to 
Hayti  and  the  great  cause  which  it  was  intended  to 
represent.  But  notwithstanding  the  purpose  and 
proposition  were  both  universally  applauded,  the 
effort  was  a  failure,  the  details  of  which  would  bring 
out  a  sorry  tale,  of  many  professing  and  wealthy 
Christians,  who  in  the  same  breath  both  applauded 
and  rejected  all  direct  appeal  to  them.  A  small  sum, 
however,  was  collected ;  but  the  whole  amount  being 


366  HAYTIAN"  INDEPENDENCE, 

less  than  £100,  and  therefore  altogether  inadequate 
to  the  expenses  of  the  undertaking  in  view,  was 
lent  for  the  purchase  of  a  small  gas  apparatus  at  New 
York,  which  turned  out  to  be  a  perfect  success,  and 
continued  in  use  at  Port  au  Prince  for  upwards  of 
two  years.  It  was  indeed  limited  to  the  Wesleyan 
Missionary  establishment,  which  consisted  of  church , 
two  dwellings,  school,  etc.  As  might  be  expected, 
this  great  novelty  in  Hay  ti  attracted  public  attention, 
and  these  small  works  were  visited,  examined,  and 
admired  by  the  President  of  Hayti,  accompanied  by 
his  Ministers. 

The  Wesleyan  establishment,  in  this  case,  was  sim 
ply  intended  as  a  starting  point  for  the  ultimate  intro 
duction  of  gas  to  the  whole  city  of  Port  an  Prince ; 
but  this  also  proved  a  failure.  A  slight  accident  occur 
ring,  the  neighbors  sent  a  protest  to  the  Missionary, 
against  the  making  of  gas  so  near  to  them,  with 
orders  to  demolish  everything  in  twenty-four  hours  ! 
This  was  supported  by  the  authorities,  who  requested 
that  all  should  be  suspended  for  the  present,  and 
thus  ended  the  first  attempt  to  establish  gas  in 
Hayti ! 

This  was  at  least  a  well-meant  attempt  by  a  friend 
of  Hayti,  to  introduce  into  the  Haytian  Republic  one 
of  the  most  admired  improvements  of  the  age. 
"Whether  this  laudable  enterprise  should  have  been 
allowed  utterly  to  sink  by  the  enlightened  authorities 
who  had  so  much  admired  it,  and  who  so  long  had 
witnessed  its  successful  working,  or  whether  public 
spirit  was  not  wanting  in  this  case,  would  need  but 
little  reflection  to  decide.  It  might  indeed  be  said 
that  other  things  were  more  wanted  in  this  Republic ; 


FROM  HISTORICAL   NOTES,       •  367 

but  for  fifty  years  past  this  has  been  said  of  every 
proposed  improvement  in  Hayti,  and  nothing  has 
been  done.  Unquestionably  it  were  better  to  begin 
something,  than  never  to  begin  anything,  simply  be 
cause  many  other  things  are  wanting. 

Much,  however,  as  the  failure  of  the  introduction 
of  gas-light  into  Hayti  is  to  be  deplored,  the  failure 
as  to  the  founding  of  a  good  Protestant  Seminary  for 
female  education  is  yet  far  more  painful,  and  in  fact 
humiliating,  especially  to  the  Missionary  who  had 
this  thing  at  heart,  and  who  was  left  unsupported, 
notwithstanding  the  most  laborious  efforts  on  his  part, 
by  a  Christian  public.* 

It  is  but  due  to  the  restored  Republic  of  Hayti,  to 
notice  the  fact  of  the  establishment  of  a  Foundry  at 
Port  au  Prince.  The  mere  erection  of  iron  buildings 
on  a  respectable  scale,  although  of  but  little  import 
ance  in  either  Europe  or  America,  may  be  considered 
in  Hayti  as  an  event ;  the  attempt  itself  is  praise 
worthy,  although  the  remark  might  be  applied  here 
also  that  other  things  yet  more  urgent  were  needed. 

The  steam  force  at  the  establishment  in  question, 
may  be  less  than  one  hundred  horse  power,  but  the 
general  machinery,  or  rather  the  general  distribution 
and  application  of  the  power,  is  well  planned  and 
efficient,  and  if  only  well  worked  and  sustained, 
under  good  direction,  might  unquestionably  be  of 

*  The  remaining  funds  for  this  great  purpose  are  still  available  ; 
and  it  is  greatly  to  be  hoped  that  heart  enough  will  yet  be  found, 
if  not  among  the  men,  at  least  among  the  ladies  of  all  the  churches 
of  America  and  England,  to  enable  this  Mission  to  take  up  the 
great  question  of  female  education  in  Hayti,  upon  a  scale  which 
shall  acknowledge,  what  Hayti  has  never  yet  fully  done,  the  true 
dignity  of  woman  ! 


368  •-     HAYTIAN  INDEPENDENCE, 

incalculable  advantage  to  a  country  so  entirely  agri 
cultural  as  Hayti,  where  implements  of  all  sorts  are 
continually  needing  repair ;  where  now  also  ocean 
steamers  are  in  constant  need  of  such  repairs  as  are 
practicable  only  by  means  of  such  establishments. 

Unhappy  events,  of  a  revolutionary  nature,  para 
lyzed  this  as  well  as  other  great  national  undertak 
ings.  Nevertheless  the  buildings  of  this  establish 
ment,  which  are  mostly  of  iron  construction,  are 
worthy  of  a  national  idea  of  this  sort ;  and  although 
the  whole  enterprise  languished  long  through  politi 
cal  strife,  it  may  ultimately  become  efficient.  Its 
management  was  at  first  under  French  engineers,  who 
although  perfectly  competent,  were  singularly  unfor 
tunate  in  all  respects,  both  as  to  their  arrangements 
with  the  Government,  and  also  as  to  their  health  ; 
for  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that  the  tropics  are  try 
ing  in  no  ordinary  degree  to  European  workmen. 

Among  the  distinguishing  peculiarities  of  the  re 
storation  of  the  Kepublic,  should  be  noticed  the  sub 
ject  of  national  or  military  music. 

Up  to  the  end  of  the  Empire,  it  must  be  admitted 
that  public  music  in  Hayti  was  altogether  in  arrears, 
notwithstanding  the  decided  taste  and  ear  of  the 
Haytian  people  for  this  useful  and  charming  science. 
This  inspiring  power  evidently  tells  upon  the  very 
gait  and  march  of  the  troops  ;  while  as  a  science,  it 
forms  a  salutary  mental  exercise  for  a  numerous  class 
of  persons,  going  far  to  show  that  whatever  is  done, 
either  in  a  military  or  any  other  sense,  should  be 
completely  done,  even  though  it  should  be  on  a  limit 
ed  scale,  military  or  otherwise. 

Competent  men,  both  civil  and  military,  were  sent 


FROM   HISTORICAL  NOTES.  369 

for  from  France,  and  the  result  is  very  apparent ;  nor 
can  it  be  doubted  that  with  a  right  and  efficient  di 
rection,  the  Haytians  would  equal  any  people  in  the 
world,  in  this  exquisite  charm  of  life. 

"With  regard  to  military  organization  and  general 
discipline,  it  might  be  well  to  note  here  that  a  corps 
called  "Tirailleurs,"*  was  formed,  and  having  been 
well  disciplined  by  foreigners,  their  appearance,  with 
their  new  music  at  their  head,  was  perhaps  the  most 
martial  that  has  ever  been  seen  in  Hayti.  The  mass 
of  the  army,  however,  was  much  as  it  had  ever  beer? 
that  is  to  say  wanting  in  real  military  discipline  ;  in 
fact,  it  must  be  admitted  that  Hayti,  in  the  very 
thing  which  she  has  most  and  so  long  adored,  viz., 
all  that  relates  to  the  sword,  is  very  far,  not  to  say 
shamefully  behind  all  the  military  and  naval  tactics 
of  the  age. 

In  municipal  arrangement,  much  still  remains  to 
be  hoped  for.  It  must  be  admitted  that  the  streets 
of  Port  au  Prince,  in  all  respects,  demand  improve 
ment  ;  but  above  all,  the  markets  present  a  scene  the 
most  thoroughly  African  that  can  well  be  conceived 
— dangerous  as  to  epidemics,  etc.,  from  the  vast  ac 
cumulations  of  every  kind  of  refuse. 

The  butchers'  stalls,  although  not  really  neglected, 
are  nevertheless  uninviting ;  while  vegetables,  fruits, 
etc.,  are  arranged  on  the  ground,  the  venders  being 
frequently  screened  from  the  sun  in  some  ludicrous 
manner  in  the  shape  of  a  crazy  shed,  or  otherwise. 

It  is  therefore  greatly  to  be  hoped,  that  the  powers 
and  the  financial  resources  of  the  municipal  body  will 
be  enlarged,  and  that  iron  markets,  upon  the  prin- 

*  Riflemen. 


370  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

ciple  of  "les  Halles  de  Paris,"  such  as  was  contem 
plated  by  the  worthy  Mayor  of  Port  an  Prince  in 
1863,  will  be  fully  carried  out,  with  the  brilliant 
accompaniment  of  gas,  as  was  already  intended.  It 
is  indeed  infinitely  to  be  deplored,  that  the  new  Ee- 
public,  which  had  broken  down  a  despotic  Empire, 
should  not  have  had  a  sufficient  amount  of  perseve 
rance  to  carry  out  such  plans  as,  in  such  a  case, 
would  have  done  honor  to  Hayti,  and  also  to  its 
African  character. 

WQ  cannot  here  allow  to  pass  unnoticed,  the  great 
question  of  reformatory  and  prison  establishments. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  in  this  important  branch 
of  modern  Christian  civilization,  there  is  not  only 
much  that  is  wanting,  but  much  to  be  undone. 

The  unfortunate  beings  incarcerated  for  moral 
delinquency  of  any  kind,  seem  to  be  much  more 
under  an  avenging  than  corrective  power.  There, 
seems  to  be  no  reforming  influence  or  design  within 

O  O 

these  wretched  walls ;  nor  does  it  seem  to  have  been 
considered  by  the  Government,  that  the  time,  mind, 
and  muscles  of  these  unfortunates,  might  be  employed 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  be  of  great  moral  benefit  to 
themselves,  and  at  the  same  time  of  great  public 
utility. 

A  thief  caught  in  the  city  under  the  Empire  of 
Soulouque,  would  frequently  be  beaten  with  sticks  by 
policemen,  as  they  drove  him  to  the  prison  through 
the  public  streets, 'and  in  fact  greatly  ill-treated;  a 
most  unhappy  spectacle  in  all  its  bearings,  both  as  to 
the  prisoners  themselves,  and  as  to  society  at  large. 

It  has  ever  been  the  usage  in  Hayti  that  criminals 
should  work  in  the  public  streets,  under  the  surveil- 


FROM  HISTORICAL  NOTES.  371 

lance  of  military  police,  with  heavy  chains  upon 
their  legs.  It  is  indeed  inconceivable,  that  sights  so 
thoroughly  lowering  to  the  public  mind,  should  be 
possible  under  any  enlightened  government.  Such 
however  is  the  case ;  and  it  is  to  be  deplored  that 
higher  views  have  not  prevailed  on  this  important 
subject. 

The  prisons  themselves,  although  tolerably  clean, 
and  generally  well-supplied  with  water,  are  poor  in 
discipline  and  without  moral  culture.  Crime,  al 
though  indeed  prevalent,  is  certainly  not  so  much  so 
as  might  have  been  expected  from  the  ignorant  state 
of  the  masses ;  but  the  thought  of  prison-life  being 
turned  to  any  advantage,  either  to  the  prisoner  him 
self,  in  a  moral  corrective  sense,  or  to  the  public,  as 
to  general  utility,  seems  not  for  a  moment  to  be 
entered  into.  Life,  time,  resources,  and  all  that  is 
hopeful  as  to  reformation,  seem  to  be  utterly  flung 
away,  as  to  prison-life  in  llayti. 

An  attempt  at  the  penitentiary  system  was  indeed 
once  made  in  llayti,  and  even  great  expense  and 
preparations  were  made  in  erecting  suitable  build 
ings,  etc.  A  military  officer  of  intelligence  was  sent 
to  Jamaica,  during  the  Empire,  to  study  the  system 
carried  out  in  that  island,  and  on  his  return  a  full 
and  well-drawn  up  report  was  presented  to  the  Gov 
ernment.  All  was  admired  and  applauded,  but 
beyond  this  little  was  done,  except  an  entirely  ineffi 
cient  attempt  to  carry  it  out. 

The  buildings  for  the  Reformatory,  which  bear  the 
name  of  "  Maison  Centrale,"  still  remain,  with  their 
forges,  and  all  needful  arrangements  for  blacksmiths, 
whitesmiths,  etc.,  etc. ;  all  which  are  now  used,  either 


372  HAYTI  AN   INDEPENDENCE, 

for  Government  or  public  service,  as  may  be,  but  as 
an  establishment  having  for  its  purpose  the  work 
ing  out  of  moral  reformation,  it  is  simply  a  failure. 
Nor  is  this  in  the  slightest  degree  surprising  to  any 
who  know  Hayti,  where  indeed  intellectual  culture 
on  a  good  scale,  although  not  general,  is  well  carried 
out,  but  where  moral  culture  either  for  prisons, 
penitentiaries,  or  general  education  is  but  little 
known. 

We  now  turn  our  attention  to  one  great  subject, 
in  connection  with  the  general  progress  of  Hayti ; 
one,  too,  vitally  bound  up  with  true  civilization,  and 
dear  to  all.  The  subject  of  religious  liberty. 

Hayti,  following  in  the  train  of  mankind  generally, 
has  not  always  been  faultless  on  this  subject.  She 
too,  has  persecuted  creeds,  which  she  deemed  not 
her  own  —  thus  following  in  the  wake  of  nations 
greater  and  old  than  herself;  she  has,  it  is  true,  done 
this  genteely  by  paying  all  expenses,  and  respect 
fully  requesting  the  first  Missionary  advocates  of  the 
Bible  who  reached  her  shores,  to  withdraw ;  although 
even  this  stood  connected  with  some  mobbings,  pelt- 
ings,  imprisonments,  etc.,  etc.  Not,  it  is  true  of  the 
Missionaries  themselves,  but  of  the  natives  who  had 
adhered  to  them,  and  had  thus  dared  to  think  for 
themselves  in  religious  matters.  Soulouque  also  dis 
honored  both  himself  and  his  country,  in  the  same 
sense,  at  least  to  some  extent,  notwithstanding  the 
Missionaries  themselves  were  not  sent  away. 

But  the  restoration  of  the  Eepublic  placed  reli 
gious  liberty  upon  its  right  footing ;  and  it  should 
also  be  admitted,  and  suitably  noticed,  that  every 
Government  in  Hayti,  since  1843,  except  the  late 


FROM  HISTORICAL  NOTES.  373 

Empire,  has  been,  upon  the  whole,  liberal  upon  the 
religious  question. 

Grave  considerations  and  reasons  are  indeed  as- 
sio-ned  for  the  establishment  of  an  Ecclesiastical 

o 

Concordat  with  the  Eoman  Pontiff.  We  will  not 
however  here,  farther  enter  into  these  reasons  than 
to  notice  approvingly,  that  a  purer  clergy  than  the 
one  which  served  Hayti  previous  to  the  establish 
ment  of  the  present  more  legitimate  hierarchy  was 
indeed  needed  in  the  Republic  ;  but  time  alone  will 
develope  whether  the  advantages  sought  by  means  of 
a  closer  alliance  with  Home  could  not  have  been 
more  fully  realized  and  carried  out  by  other  means. 

We  are  not  here  speaking  in  any  sectarian,  or  even 
religious  sense.  The  simple  question  now  before  us 
is,  whether  the  ecclesiastical  system  of  Rome  is  not 
in  arrears  of  the  advanced  views  of  the  educated  part 
of  Hayti  ?  Whether,  in  fact,  such  an  ecclesiastical 
compact  is  not  incompatible  with  the  spirit  of  the 
age ;  not  so  much  from  any  religious  conviction,  as 
from  the  innate  desire  existing  in  all  men  to  be  in  all 
respects  free,  being  responsible  to  God  alone,  in  all 
that  relates  to  the  conscience  ?  * 

*  The  following  notes  on  the  Concordat  between  the  Court  of 
Rome  and  the  Haytian  Government  have  been  furnished  by  a 
friend  for  this  work. 

Apart  from  the  funds  for  the  general  support  of  Koman  Catholic 
worship  in  the  Republic,  as  well  as  the  heavy  expenses  of  clerical 
seminaries,  the  Roman  Catholic  hierarchy  appointed  by  the  Con 
cordat  are  allowed  to  draw  on  the  public  treasury  in  the  follow 
ing  order : 

The  Archbishop 20,000  francs  per  an. 

The  two  Bishops,  1,200  frs.   each 24,000       "  " 

The  Grand  Vicar  of  Port  au  Prince 4,000       "  " 

To  four  other  Grand  Vicars 12,000       "  " 

To  each  of  the  forty  Clergymen,  1, 200  fs. . .  48, 000      "  " 

108,000      "  " 


374:  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

That  the  reigning  spirit  of  Hajti  is  such  a  love  of 
liberty,  and  too,  in  such  a  sense  as  Home  was  never 
yet  disposed  either  to  give  or  tolerate,  is  quite  cer 
tain.  How  these  plain  facts  may  harmonize,  is  a 
question  for  the  future  to  develope.  That  there  was 
much  wisdom  in  the  course  so  long  pursued  by 
Hayti  on  this  subject,  in  the  past,  is  very  probable ; 
notwithstanding  the  general  character  of  the  Romish 
clergy  previous  to  the  Concordat  formed  by  the  Gef- 
frard  Government. 

Religious  liberty,  however,  under  the  reinstated 
Republic,  may  be  considered  to  have  been  complete. 
Whether  so  much  could  be  said  of  any  other  Roman 
Catholic  country  in  the  world,  is  doubtful.  Notwith 
standing  the  advanced  ideas  of  France  on  this  subject, 
it  is  not  meant  by  this  that  Protestantism  might  not 
meet  with  difficulties  of  a  local  kind  in  Hayti,  from 
perhaps  a  bigotted  village  priest  or  magistrate ;  but 
there  is  reason  to  believe  that  in  such  a  case,  both 
the  Government  and  people  generally  would  be  on  the 
side  of  right.  This,  however,  as  we  have  seen,  was 
not  always  the  case  in  Hayti.  Boyer  evidently 
dreaded  entire  religious  liberty,  as  something  for 
which  Hayti  was  not  prepared,  notwithstanding 
she  had  been  quite  prepared  for  this,  both  under 
Petion  and  Christophe;  both  of  whom  had  in 
troduced  Protestantism  to  their  people — yea,  and 
protected  it.  ISTor  was  it  ever,  under  them,  in  the 
slightest  degree,  molested  by  the  people ;  rather  its 
presence  among  them  was  greatly  respected.  Nor 
was  there  ever  the  slightest  clashing  heard  of  between 
the  two  communions  ;  there  was  the  utmost  religious 
liberty  both  in  the  Kingdom  of  Christophe  and  in 


FKOM    HISTORICAL   NOTES.  375 

the  Republic  of  Petion — each  was  resolved  that  both 
Romanism  and  Protestantism  should  stand  together 
before  the  people,  and  that  all  should,  in  the  freest 
manner,  choose  for  themselves.  These  remarkable 
men,  evidently,  had  but  one  thing  in  view,  which 
was,  to  give  the  fullest  religious  liberty  to  all,  not 
simply  in  a  general  sense,  but  individually,  and  to 
maintain  it  in  perfect  peace.  The  Romish  clergy  of 
those  days,  saw  many  of  their  own  flock  using  their 
own  judgments  in  religious  matters  without  an  op 
posing  word.  This  was  done  in  peace;  there  was 
indeed  no  Concordat  in  those  times. 

The  plea,  therefore,  of  the  Boyer  Government,  that 
the  people  were  not  prepared  for  the  toleration  of 
Protestantism,  as  we  have  already  seen,  was  un 
founded.  The  truth  is,  that  Boyer  himself  was  not 
prepared  for  this,  and  that  Christophe  and  Petion 
were  ;  while,  at  the  same  time,  both  the  latter  were 
resolved  on  the  maintenance  of  peace,  and  the  entire 
liberty  between  the  two  creeds,  certainly,  Boyer 
had  no  such  resolve  at  all. 

Protestantism  has  now  been  before  the  people  of 
Hayti  half  a  century,  and  it  is  not  to  be  supposed 
that  its  influence  is  very  limited.  It  has  worked, 
like  silent  leaven,  throughout  the  length  and  breadth 
of  the  nation  ;  hence  the  power  and  extent  of  Evan 
gelical  truth  in  Hayti  is  not  to  be  judged  by  the 
number  and  size  of  the  various  little  churches  of  the 
Protestant  communion,  now  scattered  over  the  Re 
public,  nor  even  by  the  number  of  members  attached 
to  those  churches. 

The  "  Gouvernement  Provisoire"  of  1843,  doubt 
less,  took  an  immense  stride  on  the  great  subject  of 


376  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

religions  liberty ;  and,  it  may  be  said,  that  all  was 
maintained  in  this  respect,  until  the  unhappy  days  of 
General  Soulouque  ;  who,  nevertheless,  under  better 
advisers,  had  doubtless  done  better,  for  his  own  good 
will  can  never  be  doubted,  but  his  mind  was  un 
opened  by  education. 

It  is,  however,  gratifying  to  find  that  the  Christians 
of  the  United  States  of  America  are  now  beginning 
more  seriously  to  turn  their  attention  to  Hayti ;  and 
it  is  equally  to  be  hoped  that  the  annihilation  of  sla 
very  in  the  model  Republic  of  the  age,  will  lead 
these  Christian  sons  of  freedom,  of  every  denomina 
tion,  to  turn  their  attention  fully  to  their  many 
neighbors,  who  are  rent  and  torn  by  internal  revo 
lutions,  and  who  so  deeply  need  the  soothing  power 
of  genuine  Christianity.  It  is  also  gratifying  to  feel 
assured  that,  no  other  sword  than  that  of  truth  and 
righteousness,  will  be  used  in  this  great  work  of 
sweeping  out  indolence,  ambition,  and  ignorance ! 

Upon  this  principle,  we  here  with  pleasure  record 
the  arrival  in  Hayti  of  the  Rev.  J.  T.  Holly,  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  of  America.  This  worthy  servant 
of  God  landed  in  Hayti  on  the  26th  of  May,  1861,  at 
the  head  of  a  Mission  Colony  of  one  hundred  and 
eleven  persons,  from  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  of 
the  United  States  of  America;  their  object  being 
two-fold — to  form  such  a  home  for  themselves  in  this 
land  of  ill-understood  freedom,  as  should  exert  such 
a  Christian  Missionary  power  on  the  community  and 
country,  which  they  had  adopted  with  such  truly 
Missionary  feeling. 

The  place  of  residence,  which  was  assigned  by  the 
President  of  Hayti  to  this  little  pioneer  Christian 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  377 

army,  was  an  estate  belonging  to  the  government  call 
ed  Drouillard,  about  three  miles  outside  the  city  of 
Port  an  Prince.  Nor  were  they  wanting  in  energy 
and  enterprise — in  this  respect  they  were  fully  Ame 
rican.  But  it  is  hard  for  men  of  northern  latitudes 
to  understand  the  power  of  a  tropical  sun,  and  the 
care  and  prudence  which  the  preservation  of  their 
lives  demands  under  its  prostrating  influence.  The 
care  thus  needed,  during  the  first  year,  is  too  often 
thought  to  be  mere  indolence  and  timidity ;  hence 
many  of  sterling  worth  in  this  Colony  fell  victims  to 
a  persevering,  indefatigable,  but  ill-directed  industry; 
and,  at  the  end  of  nineteen  months  after  their  ar 
rival,  the  ranks  of  this  noble  Missionary  band  were 
so  thinned  by  sickness  and  death,  that  a  different 
course  altogether  was  deemed  desirable,  and  adopted. 
The  pastor  became  a  resident  in  the  city  of  Port  an 
Prince ;  where,  it  is  earnestly  to  be  hoped  that  one 
so  worthy,  will  be  long  sustained  by  the  Episcopal 
Church  of  America,  which  has  already  put  forth 
such  laudable  energy  in  behalf  of  Hayti.*  Great 
discouragements,  unquestionably,  crowd  on  all  Mis 
sionary  labor  in  the  Haytian  Republic ;  but  the  re 
sulting  increase  from  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  to 
every  creature,  is  of  God.  All  reasoning  is  silenced 
when  once  duty  becomes  plain  ;  as,  beyond  all  doubt, 
is  the  case  with  Hayti. 

That  Mission  work  would  be  more  efficient  by 
sending  forth  large  Christian  companies  for  the  evan- 

*  Since  the  above  date  of  1861,  the  American  Episcopal  Mission 
of  Port  au  Prince  has  received  the  entire  frame-work,  in  wood,  of 
n  small  church,  parsonage  house,  and  school,  which  now  stand'as 
embellishments  to  the  Capital  of  the  Republic  of  Hayti. 


3T8 

gelization  of  the  world,  rather  than  solitary  Mission 
aries,  might  be  easily  understood ;  but  such  enter 
prises  in  the  tropics,  without  the  greatest  prudence, 
would  inevitably  involve  great  loss  of  life.  Farm 
labor,  under  a  vertical  sun,  to  a  northern  constitu 
tion,  imperatively  requires  a  gradual  introduction, — 
the  cooler  hours  of  the  twenty-four  must  first  be  em 
ployed,  and  the  fierce  heat  of  the  torrid  zone  must 
be  faced  by  degrees. 

The  arrival  of  the  last  named  pastor  completes  the 
following  statistics,  which  will  afford  a  general  view 
of  the  amount  of  New  Testament  truth  which  has 
been  brought  to  bear  upon  Hayti,  by  various  de 
nominations,  since  the  arrival  of  the  first  Wesleyan 
Missionaries  in  1816. 


PUBLIC    PLACES    OF   WORSHIP   IN   HATTI,    APART   FROM    AND   INDE 
PENDENT     OF     THE     NATIONAL     ECCLESIASTICAL 
ESTABLISHMENT    OF    THE    COUNTRY. 

Commuted  number  of  at- 

Nuntber  of  places  of  tendants  at  each  place 

Denominations.  Worship  in  each  place.  during  the  year. 

English  Wesleyan  Methodists. 

Port  au  Prince 1  600 

Fond  Oheval 1  40 

Jeremie 1  100 

Gonaives 1  100 

Cape  Haytien 1  200 

Gros  Morne  du  Nord 1  40 

L' Anse  a  Yean 1  40 

Cormunin 1  40 

IN   THE    SPANISH    PART. 

Puerto  Plata 1   50 

Samana  .  .  1   .  .  100 


FROM  HISTORICAL  NOTES.  379 

African  Methodists." 

Colored  Americans. 

Port  au  Prince 1  150 

Arcahaie 1   50 

Jeremie 1   50 

Santo  Domiugo 1   50 

Baptist — English. 

Jacmel 1    300 

St.  Raphael 1  50 

Baptists — Americans. 

Port  au  Prince 1 100 

St.  Mark's 1   50 

Episcopalians — American,  etc. 

Port  au  Prince 1   200 

Cabaret  Quatre 1   30 

Colored  American  Immigrants  dispersed  through  the 

Republic  without  Pastors 400 

EDUCATIONAL   STATISTICS. 

Prolable  number  of  Children   sent  from  different  Protestant 
Schools  since  the  commencement  of  Evangelical 

Missions  in  Hayti. 
From  the  Port  au  Prince  "Wesleyan  Day  School.  .1000 

From  the  Cape  Haytien 500 

From  the  Gona'i ves 500 

From  the  Jereraie 400 

From  the  Jacmel  English  Baptists 200 

From  the  Port  au  Prince  American  Baptists,  etc.   100 


Those  who  know  anything  of  the  nature  and  in 
tense  antagonism  between  the  Church  of  Rome  and 
those  whom  she  deems  heretics,  will  look  rather  with 
wonder,  than  otherwise,  on  the  extent  of  success 
which  has  attended  Protestant  labors  in  Hayti ; 
especially  when  it  is  remembered  that  the  numbers 
here  given,  both  as  to  the  public  ministry,  and  also 


380  HAYTIAN  INDEPENDENCE, 

with  reference  to  education,  are  nearly  all  of  Roman 
Catholic  origin. 

Nor  should  the  fact  be  overlooked,  that  the  work 
of  education  at  the  different  stations  named,  is  car 
ried  on  by  pecuniary  resources  created  in  Hayti,  by 
means  of  payments  in  the  schools,  and  also  by  sub 
scriptions  collected  wherever  they  might  be  found ;  at 
an  immense  cost  of  Missionary  toil,  known  only  to 
those  who  have  been,  and  still  are,  thus  personally 
engaged.  Some  idea,  however,  will  be  formed  on 
the  subject  of  general  expenditure,  relating  to  the 
various  Mission  properties  in  land,  buildings,  etc., 
now  held  by  the  various  stations — purchased  prin 
cipally  by  funds  raised  in  Hayti — and  of  which  the 
following  statistics  will  aid  in  arriving  at  a  fair 
knowledge : 

Cost  of  land  and  buildings  among  the  English  Wesleyan  Me 
thodists,  and  other  Denominations,  in  the  Republic  of  Hayti. 

PORT   AU   PRINCE. 

English  Wesleyan  Methodists. 

Land  and  Church,  (gold) $15  000 

Parsonage,  School-house,  etc.,  etc 12  000 

Various  dwellings  on  the  same  property 1   000 

JEREMIE. 

Lands  and  Church 5  000 

Parsonage,  etc 3  000 

CAPE    HAYTIEN. 

Land  and  Church— a  lease  from  Government.  5  000 

Parsonage,  School,  etc 3  000 

OAYES. 

Land  and  Church 5  000 

FOND    CHEVAL. 

A  small  Chapel,  etc 100 

CABERET    QTJATRE. 

A  small  Chapel,  etc 100 


FROM  HISTORICAL  NOTES.  381 

JACMEL. 

Baptists— English. 

Church,  Land,  Parsonage,  etc 12  000 

Native  Baptists— St.  Raphael 1  000 

African  Methodists. 

Port  an  Prince  Church,  etc 2  000 

Arcahaie  Church,  etc 100 

Jeremie  Church,  etc 500 

Episcopalian — American. 

Port  au  Prince — Land,  Church,  Parsonage,  etc.    3  000 

In  addition  to  the  entire  support  of  Education  by 
Ilayti  itself,  amounting  to  certainly  not  less  than  the 
sum  of  $2.000  per  annum,  in  gold,  more  or  less  has 
also  always  been  raised  in  Hayti  towards  the  sup 
port  of  the  public  Ministry. 

The  Wesleyan  Missionary  Committee  of  London, 
in  all  probability,  has  expended  on  Hayti,  as  a  Mis 
sion  field,  upwards  of  $200,000  in  gold ! — a  great 
sum,  considering  the  toil  of  raising  it,  but  small,  con 
sidering  the  work  to  be  done. 

The  statistics  here  given,  financially  and  other 
wise,  will  doubtless  throw  some  light  on  the  extent 
and  general  results  of  Missionary  labors  of  various 
kinds  in  Ilayti ;  and  the  figures  given  will  super 
sede  the  necessity  of  further  enlargement  for  the 
present. 

How  the  idea  of  abandoning  such  a  Mission  should 
ever,  for  any  conceivable  reason,  have  got  any 
where  into  existence,  is  utterly  inexplicable  ;  yet, 
that  such  an  idea  has  been  broached  in  certain 
quarters  of  the  Church,  is  quite  certain. 

Much,  indeed,  might  be  said  as  to  discourage 
ments  in  this  Mission,  especially  with  regard  to  the 


382  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

English  "Wesleyan  Methodists,  who  were  the  pioneers 
of  Protestant  Missions  in  this  Island ;  and  here  we 
would  begin  with  the  fact,  that  the  two  first  Mission 
aries  were  compelled  to  withdraw  from  this  field  of 
labor,  as  the  result  of  persecution  ;  after  which,  for 
many  years,  Protestantism  was  barely  tolerated  in 
Hay  ti,  while  every  step  and  development  of  the  Mis 
sion  was  exceedingly  slow.  The  country  also  has 
been  the  victim  of  political  convulsions  ;  and, 
although  comparatively  great  things  have  been  done, 
it  has  been  in  the  midst  of  great  difficulties.  Most 
of  the  European  Missionaries,  for  reasons  apparently 
sufficient  to  themselves,  have  gradually  withdrawn 
from  the  field  ;  while  most  of  the  native  Missionaries 
have  ceased  to  be  connected  with  the  English  body, 
also  for  reasons  sufficient  in  their  own  estimation, 
although  remaining  friendly. 

The  tenure  of  land  in  Hayti  by  foreigners  is, 
doubtless,  more  or  less  discouraging  to  the  operation 
of  foreign  societies — the  holding  of  landed  property 
being  impossible  to  foreigners,  except  through  the 
medium  of  native  trustees. 

Still,  the  aim  of  all  Missions  is  independence.  It 
is  not  to  be  supposed  that  either  Colonies  or  Christian 
Missions  were  founded  with  any  other  idea  than  that 
of  ultimate  independence.* 

Upon  this  principle,  and  with  this  special  purpose 

*  Discouragement,  therefore,  on  any  such  grounds  or  for  any 
such  reasons,  on  the  part  of  those  Churches  from  which  Mission 
aries  are  sent,  would  be  simply  an  error  ;  the  sole  aim  of  all 
Christian  Missions  being  to  place  in  the  hands  of  all  nations  the 
great  power  of  Christianity  ;  to  teach  them  how  to  apply  it,  and 
to  leave  them  to  do  so  when  the  fair  moment  for  so  doing  shall 
arrive. 


FEOM  HISTORICAL  NOTES.  383 

in  view,  a  financial  Committee  was  formed  at  Port 
an  Prince,  in  1865,  with  the  hope  of  creating  funds 
throughout  the  Kepublic,  for  the  general  support  of 
the  Wesleyan  Mission  in  Hayti.  This  was  intended 
as  a  starting  point  for  ultimate  self-support ;  hence 
the  first  measure  proposed  and  adopted  by  this  na 
tive  Committee  was  an  offer  to  the  Parent  Committee 
of  London  of  three  hundred  pounds  sterling,  on  con 
dition  that  five  Missionaries  should  be  sent  to  Hayti. 
This  offer  was  made  simply  in  the  sense  of  help,  but 
it  was  declined  in  England  on  the  ground  that  to 
comply  with,  or  accept  it,  would  entail  expenses 
which  the  home  Committee  was  not  prepared  to  un 
dertake  ;  nor  is  it  altogether  surprising,  if  confidence 
in  Hayti  should  have  failed  in  this  case,  considering 
all  the  difficulties  already  referred  to  in  this  Mission, 
and  especially  when  the  fact  is  added,  that  the  hope 
of  a  native  Ministry  in  Hayti  seems,  for  the  present, 
to  be  faint. 

Nevertheless,  the  formation  of  a  financial  commit 
tee  in  Hayti,  with  a  view  to  ultimate  self-support, 
may  be  considered  as  an  epoch  in  the  "Wesleyan 
Mission  of  this  country;  that  it  was  worthy  of  the 
patronage  and  support  of  the  parent  Committee  was 
admitted ;  that  all  refusal  to  act  in  the  case  should 
have  had  the  most  chilling  and  discouraging  effect 
on  all  future  effort,  will  be  easily  understood. 

The  case  now  before  us,  is  the  more  to  be  deplored 
from  the  fact  and  certainty,  that  had  the  Missionaries 
thus  requested  been  sent,  funds  to  a  much  greater 
amount  than  the  sum  pledged,  would  have  been 
raised. 

Hayti  is  doubtless  considered  as  not  having  ful- 


384: 

filled  her  national  mission  as  to  Africa  and  the 
African.  This,  painful  as  the  fact  is,  mnst  be  admit 
ted  to  a  great  extent ;  hence  she  has  been  looked 
upon  as  unworthy.  This  also  is  true ;  but  if  this  is 
to  be  the  ground-work  of  abandonment  as  to  Hayti, 
the  principle  would  lead  to  far  more  than  would  be 
desired.  If  only  such  parts  of  the  earth  as  have  deserv 
ed  redemption  are  to  be  visited,  where  shall  we  go  ? 

Whatever  view  may  be  taken  on  this  subject,  it 
is  a  fair  question  whether,  if  this  Mission  had  been 
kept  up,  and  the  same  increase  of  Missionaries  as 
was  accorded  during  the  first  thirty  years  of  its 
existence  continued,  Hayti  might  as  a  nation  have 
been  put  on  a  different  track,  and  whether  the 
impulse  thus  given,  might  not  have  led  to  another 
order  of  things. 

It  must  not  be  lost  sight  of  that  the  work  of 
Christian  Missions  in  Hayti  is  still  essentially  of  a 
pioneering  character.  The  Wesleyan  Missionary 
Society  of  London  have  ever  encouraged  their  Mis 
sionaries  in  this  sense.  Nor  has  the  time  yet  come, 
when  the  great  preliminaries  of  this  noble  work 
might  cease.  The  pioneers  are  still  needed,  and  will 
be,  until  the  various  churches  already  raised,  and  yet 
many  others,  shall  be  able  to  maintain  and  act  for 
themselves.  To  allow  them  to  disappear  for  any 
other  reason  than  what  the  great  Head  of  the  church 
would  recognize  as  impossibility,  would  be  a  crime.* 

*  A  country  deeply  needing  Christian  Missions,  and  being  unre 
servedly  open  to  them,  is  unquestionably  a  call  to  the  churches. 
That  the  case  of  Hayti  is  such  a  call  cannot  be  denied.  Whether 
those,  who  in  obedience  to  the  great  call  in  question,  have  put 
their  hands  to  the  plough,  have  ever  after  a  right  to  cease  all  fur 
ther  obedience  to  that  same  call,  which  as  far  as  relates  to  necessity 
and  an  open  door,  ceases  not,  is  a  grave  question. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  385 

It  is  now  evident  that  divine  Providence  is  bring 
ing  about  a  splendid  concurrence  of  circumstances  in 
behalf  of  the  human  family  at  large,  and  therefore 
more  or  less  in  behalf  of  Hayti. 

During  the  past,  limits  and  fetters  of  various  kinds, 
both  in  and  out  of  Hayti,  have  operated  in  an  exclu 
sive  sense,  not  only  as  to  Christian  Missions,  but  also 
in  many  other  respects.  Conflicting  views  and  feel 
ings  have  long  been  working;  but  the  time  is  coming 
for  better  things  ;  the  breaking  down  of  old  barriers 
has  commenced;  slavery  has  now  been  sufficiently 
shaken  to  assure  us  that  ultimately  the  world  shall 
be  free  in  every  sense. 

For  many  years  the  attitude  and  position  of  the 
United  States  with  regard  to  Hayti  and  the  African 
question  generally,  was  painful  and  unhappy.  Now 
all  in  this  direction  is  changed.  In  fact,  the  gloomy 
days  of  the  past,  in  all  these  matters,  are  over ;  yet, 
during  those  times  of  darkness  and  discouragement, 
the  messengers  of  the  churches  were  sent  from  the 
"Wesleyans  of  England,  Long  and  through  every 
difficulty  have  they  labored  ;  nor  has  it  been  in  vain, 
as  will  be  seen  by  the  preceding  pages.  For  many 
years,  this  field  of  labor  seemed  to  be  confined  to  its 
first  pioneers ;  but  the  day  is  now  evidently  come, 
when  hindrances  on  every  hand  are  dispersed  by  an 
Almighty  power.  This  interesting  field  of  labor  is 
now  thrown  open  to  all.  It  is  hoped,  and  confidently 
expected,  that  the  American  churches  will  now  think 
of  Hayti.  Let  all  the  churches,  whether  of  America 
or  Europe,  hear  what  the  Spirit  saith  unto  them  in 
this  matter,  whether  as  to  Christian  education  or  the 
preaching  of  the  everlasting  Gospel. 


3  86  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

The  triumphs  of  justice  in  the  United  States  by 
means  of  the  late  civil  war,  may  doubtless  be  under 
stood  as  a  signal  on  the  part  of  divine  Providence 
of  righteous  purposes  towards  mankind. 

A  great  nation,  where  the  Word  of  God  is  in  the 
ascendant,  no  longer  under  the  iniquitous  spell  of 
slavery  in  any  sense,  either  with  regard  to  its  inter 
nal  politics  or  its  general  and  extensive  relations  with 
mankind,  is  now  unboundedly  free  to  act  in  the  dif 
fusion  of  Christianity,  by  saying  to  the  nations  on 
the  great  subject  of  justice  and  freedom  to  all  men — 
follow  us.  And  it  is  to  be  expected  that  her  armless 
armies  will  join  other  ranks,  under  the  same  Emman 
uel,  to  raise  the  world,  and  aid  in  placing  the  human 
family  on  the  highway  to  universal  peace,  knowledge, 
commerce  and  science.  In  this  sense,  Hayti  may 
hope  for  her  share  in  the  general  good  ;  the  more  so, 
since  the  proof  is  fully  before  the  world  that  she  is 
prepared  for  all  that  the  general  church  of  Christ, 
from  any  and  every  quarter,  is  prepared  to  do  for  her. 
'Nor  is  anything  else  needed  for  Hayti ;  her  capacity 
to  act  and  do  for  herself  is  sufficiently  evident.  The 
moral  element  alone  is  her  failure.  Here  all  indeed 
is  weak  and  unhealthy.  Let  the  Christian  churches, 
therefore,  of  the  world  bring  her  health  and  strength, 
and  she  will  rise  to  her  proper  level. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

The  Immigration. — Its  failure. — Assassination  of  tthe^  President's 
daughter. — Intended  public  meeting  on  the  death  of  Lincoln. — 
The  Tirailleurs.— Quarrel  between  the  English  and  Salnave. — 
Geffrard's  last  Message. — Great  proposals  for  reform.— The  night 
of  the  22d  of  February,  1867. — Geffrard  embarks  for  Jamaica. — 
New  Government. 


Nations  clos'd  up,  like  stagnant  waters,  to 
Corruption  haste  ;  let  then  the  living  stream 
Come  in. 

NOTHING  indeed  can  be  more  deplorable  than  the 
great  instability  of  Hayti.  Truly  nothing  can  be  said 
in  justification  of  this;  and  yet  it  is  an  undeniable  fact, 
that  there  is  much  to  be  said  of  the  development  of 
some  of  the  resources  of  the  country,  even  in  connec 
tion  with  this  painful  fact. 

Military  duties  and  revolutions,  weighing  as  they 
have  done  upon  the  entire  population,  and  ruinous  as 
they  have  been,  have  not  obliterated  the  proofs  of 
real  stamina  in  the  Haytian  nation. 

Let  it  be  remembered,  that  notwithstanding  all 
that  is  to  be  deplored  in  this  case,  and  although  the 
national  interests  have  been  so  crippled  by  great  politi 
cal  shocks  of  every  kind,  all  has  nevertheless  gone  on, 
though  poorly.  The  exports  of  coffee  have  increased, 
and  an  important  cotton  business  of  some  10,000,000 
pounds  per  annum  has  been  even  created  in  the 
midst  of  the  greatest  political  troubles.  Education, 
although  on  a  limited  scale,  has  been  kept  up ;  the 


388 

various  interests  of  life  have  gone  on ;  and  notwith 
standing  a  heavy  national  debt  to  France,  which 
forms  a  continual  drain  upon  the  public  treasury, 
wealth  and  even  fortunes  have  been  and  still  are 
accumulated,  while  the  revolutions  themselves  have 
frequently  brought  before  the  world  men  of  talent. 

The  proofs,  therefore,  are  clear  of  the  existence  of 
immense  resources  in  Hayti,  both  morally  and  phy 
sically,  needing  only  fair  circumstances  to  bring 
them  out. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  preceding  chapters,  that 
during  the  first  years  of  the  Geffrard  Government, 
all  was  hopeful,  notwithstanding  errors  of  judgment 
or  otherwise,  as  to  the  general  principles  of  Repub 
licanism  or  political  freedom;  for  it  must  be  ad 
mitted,  that  Hayti  has  never  yet  understood  fully 
the  principles  of  free  government  in  a  really  practical 
and  working  sense. 

It  should  be  noted  here,  that  in  the  early  part  of 
the  restored  Republic,  an  intense  desire  was  mani 
fested  for  an  augmentation  of  population  by  means 
of  immigration  on  a  large  scale.  Numerous  agents 
were  therefore  employed  by  the  Haytian  Govern 
ment  to  hold  public  meetings  amongst  the  colored 
people  of  the  United  States,  and  lecture  on  the  gene 
ral  subject  of  Hayti.  By  this  means  thousands  heard 
of  Hayti — its  climate,  fertility,  boundless  resources, 
and  advantages  of  every  kind  were  brought  before 
the  public  by  means  of  the  press,  and  in  every  other 
way  possible.  In  fact,  by  many,  these  descriptions 
of  Hayti  and  its  various  resources  were  thought  to 
be  merely  luring  exaggerations.  It  is,  however,  a 
fact,  that  the  climate  and  soil  of  Hayti  do  unques- 


FROM  HISTOEICAL  NOTES.  389 

tionably  afford  extraordinary  resources.  But  it  must 
be  remembered,  that  however  extraordinary  the  re 
sources  of  any  country  may  be,  the  greatest  prudence 
should  be  exercised  when  entire  families  are  thus 
drawn  from  their  homes. 

Immigrants  put  in  possession  of  even  a  rich  wilder 
ness,  are  at  once  in  the  position  of  pioneers ;  their 
task,  in  the  midst  of  the  greatest  resources,  will 
become  hard,  and  many  in  such  a  case  will  die  unfler 
their  burden.  E"or  would  the  cry  of  cruelty,  injus 
tice  and  deception  be  very  surprising  in  such  a  case. 

That  there  was  want  of  judgment  on  all  sides  in 
this  great  and  laudable  scheme  must  be  admitted. 
Nevertheless,  vast  sums  were  expended  by  the  Hay- 
tian  Government  in  this  case ;  and  it  must  be  owned, 
that  many  influential  men  in  the  Republic  of  Hayti 
had  this  thing  really  at  heart. 

Hundreds  of  families  arrived  in  Hayti  at  a  time. 
All  hopes  were  great ;  but  the  difficulties  of  forming 
new  homes,  of  adopting  new  habits,  and  of  forgetting 
the  enjoyments  flowing  from  the  high  civilization 
which  they  had  left  behind,  were  distressingly  great, 
and  many  sunk,  unable  to  bear  their  load.  The 
tropics  worked  fatally  on  these  northern  constitu 
tions,  although  African  in  their  origin ;  a  thousand 
fears  were  very  naturally  the  result.  Hundreds 
returned,  and  the  report  of  their  disappointments, 
sufferings  and  loss,  both  of  friends  and  property,  soon 
ended  further  proceedings. 

The  effort  was,  nevertheless,  well  meant,  and  had 
it  only  succeeded,  as  it  unquestionably  would,  had  it 
been  on  all  sides  rightly  directed,  it  would  doubtless 
have  been  of  incalculable  advantage  in  all  respects, 


390 

not  only  to  Hayti  itself,  but  to  those  who  came,  and 
also  to  the  great  principle  of  independence,  which  to 
all  Haytians  is  and  ought  to  be  dear  !  Nor  ought 
this  failure  to  terminate  all  future  idea  of  this  sort. 
Let  the  same  object  be  still  kept  in  view,  and  even 
more  than  ever  in  view ;  but  instead  of  embarrassing 
numbers  arriving  suddenly,  no  suitable  preparations 
being  made  for  them,  let  the  whole  aim  and  plan  be 
worked  slowly,  rather  in  the  sense  of  a  perpetual 
movement  than  otherwise.  Let  suitable  positions  for 
a  few  families  bo  previously  fixed  upon,  where  water 
and  fertility  shall  render  success  certain,  and  where, 
on  their  arrival,  they  shall  be  sent  without  delay. 
ISTor  let  there  be  further  augmentation,  until  the  pros 
perity  of  those  already  at  work  is  fully  established 
and  assured.  Such  a  course  pursued  for  twenty 
years,  or  on  the  principle  of  a  perpetual  increase, 
would  ultimately  become  a  vast  success,  and  the  re 
putation  of  the  country  would  be  permanently 
established. 

For  those  possessing  more  or  less  wealth,  Hayti 
might  ultimately  prove  to  be  a  safe  bank,  paying 
great  interest  on  capital,  well  applied  to  a  soil  of 
boundless  fertility.  This  field,  also,  in  a  literary 
sense,  is  worthy  of  attention,  as  to  the  bar,  medicine, 
or  the  senate. 

In  fact,  the  aim  and  ultimate  object  of  this  great 
effort  for  immigration  was  praiseworthy.  It  evidently 
meant  that  Hayti  needed  this.  It  was  doubtless 
thought  that  a  more  healthy  moral  element  was 
desirable,  than  which  nothing  could  be  more  true. 
But  in  addition  to  this  fact,  it  is  found  that  the  popu 
lation  of  Hayti  is  too  small  for  the  due  cultivation  of 


FROM  HISTORICAL  NOTES.  391 

its  wide  territory,  and  from  paucity  of  population, 
will  result  weakness  and  stagnation.  Nor  is  it  to  be 
concealed  that  stagnation  is  a  leaven  for  evil.  Let 
then  a  healthier  moral  and  intellectual  stream  come 
in ;  but  let  it  come  in  safely  to  all  parties. 

The  military  system  long  prevailing  in  Hayti  and 
the  language  are  doubtless  obstacles ;  but  the  former 
must  ultimately  and  before  long  lose  its  power.  ISTor 
let  it  be  forgotten,  that  in  this  attempt,  under  the 
government  of  Geffrard,  this  question  was  fairly  and 
satisfactorily  considered.  In  fact,  a  military  despot 
ism  must  become  impossible.  Let  those,  therefore, 
who  feel  aright  on  this  matter,  come  to  help  this 
nation  forward  in  the  triumphs  of  peace  and 
industry. 

"With  regard  to  language,  full  and  fair  commerce 
will  show  the  way  in  this  matter ;  while  it  should  not 
be  overlooked,  that  the  English  language  has  already 
made  great  way  in  Hayti. 

The  great  principle  both  instinctively  and  designedly 
recognized  by  the  last  strenuous  effort  for  immigra 
tion,  as  well  as  in  the  same  attempt  of  1823,  was,  that 
no  branch  of  the  human  race  can  become  isolated. 
Man  cannot  exist  alone  in  any  sense ;  he  was  not 
formed  for  this,  nor  can  it  in  the  nature  of  things  be. 
Hence  it  has  been  an  unlimited  blessing  that  from 
the  time  of  Julius  Caesar,  all  Europe,  so  to  speak,  has 
poured  itself  into  Great  Britain,  and  the  glory  of  the 
United  States  at  the  present  time  is,  that  they  are 
now  open  to  the  whole  human  family.  ISTor  has 
either  of  these  great  nations  lost  one  iota  of  their 
identity  by  the  overwhelming  tide  of  immigration, 
which  has  long  been  flowing  in  upon  them. 


392  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

Hayti,  therefore,  lias  everything  to  gain  by 
judicious,  unceasing  and  well  managed  immigration. 
Let  her  only  maintain  her  dignity  by  the  enlightened, 
universal  moral  culture  of  her  children. 

But  whatever  there  might  have  been  of  good  in  the 
Geffrard  Government,  the  elements  of  discord,  from 
whatever  cause,  could  not  be  concealed.  Swarms  of 
enemies  doubtless  resulted  from  banishment,  political 
executions,  trampling  on  public  opinion,  extrava 
gance  in  public  salaries,  supporting  great  vanity,  and 
a  thousand  other  things,  showing  decided  want  of 
moral  ballast. 

It  was  not,  however,  to  be  expected,  that  a  great 
privileged  class,  such  as  was  created  under  the 
Empire,  and  which  had  taken  decided  root,  would  be 
suddenly  swept  away  without  creating  bitterness. 
Hence  on  the  3d  of  September,  1859,  one  of  the  most 
diabolical  events  that  was  ever  recorded,  dishonored 
the  annals  of  Hayti.  A  certain  party,  resulting  from 
the  wreck  of  the  fallen  Empire,  formed  the  fiendish 
plan  of  assassinating  the  President.  History  informs 
us  that  the  Government  had  heard  of  this ;  but  they 
unwisely  allowed  the  plan  to  mature,  probably  hop 
ing  the  more  easily  to  seize  the  really  guilty.  Dark 
ness  was  chosen  for  this  deed.  Hence  in  the  evening 
of  the  "last  named  date,  it  was  planned  that  the 
married  daughter  of  the  President,  Madame  Blanfort, 
should  be  shot,  with  a  view  to  bring  out  the  father, 
who  was  to  have  fallen  in  the  excitement,  which, 
would  naturally  result  from  their  diabolical  pro 
ceedings. 

This  innocent  victim  was  shot  by  murderers  who 
had  aimed  at  her,  through  one  of  the  windows 


FKOM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  393 

of  the  room  where  she  was  sitting,  engaged  in 
reading  at  a  table.  The  ball  of  the  assassin  went 

O 

through  her  head,  and  life  was  soon  extinct.  But 
the  friends  of  Geffrard  understood  the  elements  about 
them.  Hence  by  their  entreaties  to  prevent  him  from 
exposing  himself,  this  base  project  failed. 

The  history  of  this  unhappy  case,  together  with  the 
trial  and  execution,  forms  a  volume  of  deep  and 
unhappy  interest,  which  is  well  known  in  Hayti. 

It  is  therefore  evident,  that  even  from  the  begin 
ning  of  the  restored  Republic,  the  elements  were  con 
flicting.  Nevertheless,  much  was  done  as  to  national 
progress,  as  has  been  shown  in  the  foregoing  chapter. 

But  the  true,  sound  principles  of  government  have 
ever  been  wanting  in  Hayti.  Hence  the  best  inten 
tions  have  failed  by  wrong  measures.  The  great 
political  sin  of  Hayti  has  ever  been  in  not  allowing 
her  own  recognized  principles  of  Republicanism  to 
have  free  action.  The  chief  magistrate,  Emperor, 
King,  or  President,  has  hitherto  been  the  master  and 
not  the  servant  of  his  country.  Hence  he  has  exe 
cuted  his  own  will  rather  than  that  of  the  people. 
Arms,  therefore,  have  been  resorted  to  in  all  cases, 
rather  than  give  up  a  power  which  in  the  end  could 
only  be  sustained  by  brute  force.  Hence  the  military 
power  under  Geffrard  sought  perfection  as  a  system ; 
its  music,  discipline  and  uniform  were  all  such  as  had 
never  been  seen  before  in  Hayti. 

Nevertheless,  up  to  1862,  a  House  of  Representa 
tives,  during  the  restored  Republic,  had  been  at 
work,  in  which  there  were  men  who  could  and  did 
express  themselves  with  decided  ability.  The  result 
was,  that  the  Government  was  in  some  cases  seriously 


394 

called  to  account.  This  was  indeed  a  new  order  of 
things  in  Hayti ;  such,  too,  as  was  not  readily  appre 
ciated  by  the  ruling  power.  Hence,  in  the  early  part 
of  1862,  this  Parliament  was  dissolved,  the  President 
at  that  time  having  the  power  to  do  so.  Nor  would 
it  be  difficult,  perhaps,  Y  to  explain  why  the  same 
Representatives  were  not  returned  by  the  people.  It 
is  however  certain,  that  a  different  House  was  consti 
tuted,  which  probably  would  not  have  been  the  case, 
but  for  undue  governmental  influence ;  while  at  the 
same  time,  it  is  equally  certain  that  the  dissolution 
of  this  Parliament  was  the  starting-point  of  much 
unhappiness. 

Lowering  clouds  now  commenced.  The  men  who 
had  legitimately  spoken  in  behalf  of  their  country, 
had  been  silenced  and  dismissed.  The  leaven  of  dis 
content  had  thus  been  deposited  in  the  nation,  and  its 
power  was  soon  seen.  Murmurs  here  and  there  were 
increasingly  heard,  and  the  ruling  power,  feeling  the 
symptoms  of  a  revolutionary  plague,  concluded  that 
the  sword  was  the  best  protector.  The  order  of  the 
day,  therefore,  soon  became  military  impressment. 
The  country  was  thought  to  be  in  danger,  although 
not  from  any  foreign  enemy,  and  therefore  must  be 
protected ;  or,  to  speak  plainly,  the  Haytians  were 
threatened  by  the  Haytians,  and  arms  therefore  were 
necessary.  Such,  alas,  has  ever  been  the  course  of 
Hayti,  and  her  victories  have  too  often  been  over  her 
own  prostrate  self. 

A  new  military  corps  had  been  formed  under  the 
Geffrard  Government,  and  was  named  u  Les  Tirail 
leurs."*  This  corps,  consisting  of  some  two  or  three 

*  Kiflemen. 


FROM   HISTORICAL  NOTES.  395 

thousand  men,  was  specially  trained,  as  to  discipline 
and  music,  by  men  from  Europe.  Their  appearance 
was  perhaps  the  most  military,  and  as  such  the  most 
imposing  ever  before  seen  in  Hayti.  They  were 
petted  and  in  every  way  idolized  by  their  Presiden 
tial  chief,  and  in  fact,  under  the  shadow  of  their 
arms,  lie  deemed  himself  invulnerable. 

In  the  early  part  of  1865,  the  revolutionary  feeling 
of  the  anti-Geifrard  party  came  to  a  climax,  by  the 
formation  of  a  Provisional  Government  at  Cape 
Haytien ;  and  on  the  13th  of  this  same  month  and 
year,  Port  au  Prince  was  in  a  state  of  great  excite 
ment. 

A  public  meeting  on  the  assassination  of  President 
Lincoln  was  to  have  taken  place  at  the  "Wesleyan 
church  on  the  last  named  date,  at  which  a  Secretary 
of  State  was  to  have  presided ;  but  the  public  excite 
ment  was  such,  that  it  was  impossible  for  it  to  take 
place. 

Ilayti  was  therefore  again  in  the  throes  of  another 
revolution,  the  root  of  which  was  two-fold :  First,  the 
stand  of  Longfusse,  who  had  been  joined  by  Com 
mandant  Salnave,  the  former  having  been  tried  and 
shot,  the  latter  escaping ;  secondly,  the  dissolution 
of  the  House  of  Representatives,  which  had  evidently 
been  a  cause  of  great  irritation.  These  two  cir 
cumstances  had  rather  been  main-springs  among  a 
thousand  others,  which  had  long  been  at  work,  until 
the  final  result  was  that  the  nation  was  in  conflict. 

In  the  early  part  of  Geifrard's  power,  the  public 
press  had  clearly  expressed  the  wishes  of  the  nation, 
that  punishment  of  death  for  political  offences  should 
cease.  This,  however,  was  not  heeded ;  and  it  is  de- 


396  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE. 

plorable^  that  under  an  enlightened  Government, 
which  dared  the  wishes  of  the  better  part  of  the 
community,  so  many  victims  should  have  fallen  as  a 
mere  matter  of  policy.  It  would  be  painful  as  well 
as  humiliating  to  reckon  the  number  that  fell  under 
a  Government  of  so  much  li^ht  and  intelligence  for 

cD  ^ 

political  offences.  But,  "  What  a  man  soweth  that 
shall  he  also  reap." 

The  military  power  of  the  "  Gouvernement  Pro- 
visoire  "  at  Cape  Haytien  was  in  a  fort  at  that  place, 
named  "  Bel  Aire."  commanding  the  main,  and 
almost  the  only  entrance  to  Cape  Haytien.  This 
fort  was  under  the  command  of  Commandant  Sal- 
nave,  who,  under  the  Provisional  Government,  was 
soon  named  General. 

Forces  and  troops  were  now  got  together  by  Presi 
dent  Geffrard.  An  army  of  from  six  to  eight  thou 
sand  men  was  sent  to  the  north,  and  attacks,  skir 
mishes,  and  fights  became  frequent  between  the 
parties,  in  which  many  at  different  times  were  killed. 
But  Salnave,  with  a  handful  of  men,  held  the  fort, 
"Bel  Aire,"  and  the  comparatively  great  army  of 
Geffrard  long  quailed  before  this  handful  of  resolute 
men.  Ultimately,  Geft'rard  himself  marched  with  an 
additional  force  ;  but  all  was  useless,  until  a  dif 
ficulty  occurred  between  the  English  and  the  Salnave 
party.  The  former  considering  their  flag  to  have 
been  insulted,  pursued  the  offenders,  but  in  the  pur 
suit  became  inextricably  fixed  and  grounded  in  the 
harbor  of  the  Cape,  and  was  fired  upon  from  the 
land,  A  bombardment  by  the  British  forces  was  the 
final  result;  the  consequence  of  which  was,  that  Sal- 
nave  was  dislodged,  and  with  many  others  was  taken 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  397 

on  board  an  American  man-of-war,  then  in  the  har 
bor.  The  way  being  now  cleared,  Geffrard  and  his 
army  entered ;  but  his  taking  possession,  by  means 
of  foreign  guns,  was  displeasing  to  all  parties.  Nor 
was  anything  made  solid  by  this  means. 

At  last  a  pause  ensued,  and  Geffrard  returned  to 
the  capital.  Had  he  at  this  time  remodeled  the  Con 
stitution,  established  at  once  a  four  years'  presidency, 
descending  ultimately  himself  to  simple  citizenship, 
reduced  his  army  to  reasonable  limits,  and  his  own 
salary  from  $.10,000  to  $20,000  per  annum ;  had  he 
then  pushed  economy  through  the  entire  Republic 
and  seriously  set  about  the  education  of  the  masses, 
the  name  of  Geffrard  had  been  immortalized  in 
Hayti.  But  he  chose  another  course,  and  conse 
quently  changed  his  position  with  posterity. 

The  leaven  of  discontent  was  now  working  through 
the  entire  nation,  and  the  Government  felt  that  it 
must  surround  and  sustain  itself  by  arms  or  fall. 
The  result  was,  that  the  Republic  became  one  great 
military  camp. 

During  all  these  movements,  great  truths  would 
now  and  then  be  spoken  in  the  Senate ;  nevertheless 
the  Government  was  no  longer  called  to  account  for 
its  proceedings.  • 

The  public  journals,  some  of  which  had  spoken 
plain  truths,  now  of  themselves,  voluntarily,  ceased  to 
exist.  They  had  spoken  truth  in  vain,  and  therefore 
they  had  now  ceased  to  speak  at  all ;  thus  they 
seemed  to  leave  the  national  bark  to  drift  as  it  might 
upon  a  troubled  sea,  which  by  right  means  it  would 
not  have  been  impossible  to  calm. 

The  marches  and  counter-marches,  together  with 


SP8  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

the  arming  of  a  whole  nation,  purchase  of  large  ships, 
etc.,  would  naturally  have  drained  even  a  rich  na 
tional  treasury.  All  public  works  and  enterprises 
ceased  —  all  was  poverty  ;  the  public  credit  was 
shaken,  loans  became  impossible,  while  the  whole 
nation  became  disgusted  and  exhausted  with  fatigue. 

To  add  to  the  public  troubles,  two  great  fires  had 
occurred  at  the  capital,  and  Port  au  Prince  had  been 
reduced  to  the  greatest  distress,  thousands  of  fami 
lies  having  lost  all  they  had,  and  being  left  without 
shelter. 

It  will  be  evident  from  these  statements,  that  poli 
tical,  commercial,  and  financial  complications  of  a 
most  ruinous  nature,  would  be  the  inevitable  result. 
How  intelligent  men,  directing  the  interests  of  the 
country,  could  contemplate  a  threatening  ruin,  which 
it  was  in  their  power  to  avoid,  without  at  once 
saving  themselves  and  their  country,  is  difficult  to 
understand.  Yet  far  more  astonishing  was  the  cass 
of  the  President,  who  knew  the  will  of  the  nation 
as  well  as  he  knew  his  own,  and  whose  dignity, 
safety,  and  duty  concentrated  in  being  its  executive  ; 
but  an  infatuation  seemed  to  have  seized  all  that 
were  in  power,  and  confusion  seemed  to  seek  its 
climax. 

It  will  easily  be  understood,  that  the  whole  Sal- 
nave  party,  having  been  compelled  to  withdraw  to 
foreign  shores,  it  would  coalesce  with  GefFrard's  ene 
mies  already  banished,  and  an  army  of  no  small 
force  would  by  this  means  be  united  against  his 
Government  beyond  the  limits  of  the  Republic.  Nor 
did  they  fail  in  this  manner  to  exert  their  influence 
and  power.  Many,  too,  whom  they  had  left  behind, 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  399 

as  they  well  knew,  sympathized  with  them,  in  addi 
tion  to  the  many  who  had  fled  from  Hayti  during 
Geffrard's  Presidency.  In  fact,  the  large  exiled 
party  of  Soulouque,  at  the  fall  of  the  Empire  in  1859, 
were  now  in  sympathy,  and  unitedly  contributed  im 
mensely  to  the  general  embarrassment ;  in  truth,  the 
elements  now  at  work,  both  in  and  out  of  the  coun 
try,  were  powerful  and  threatening  ;  nevertheless  it 
was  felt  by  many  that,  with  all  the  errors  of  the  Gef- 
frard  Government,  the  country  had  in  some  respects 
advanced,  and  there  were  not  wanting  those  who 
would  have  rejoiced  to  see  that  Government  rising 
above  its  abuses  rather  than  see  all  interests  at  the 
mercy  of  a  sword-revolution ;  but  the  pride  of  one 
party  and  the  bitterness  of  the  other  were  both  rising 
above  all  control,  and  it  seemed  inevitable  that  wreck 
should  come  on. 

The  national  machinery,  however,  worked  on. 
The  subject  of  a  periodical  Presidency  was  broached 
by  the  President  himself,  but  his  proposition  was 
surrounded  by  such  a  network  of  conditions,  and 
above  all,  that  the  President  going  out  of  office 
should  be  allowed  a  handsome  pension,  with  military 
honors,  etc.,  that  it  failed  and  sunk  the  President 
himself  yet  lower  in  the  estimation  of  the  people. 

The  seventh  article  of  the  Constitution,  by  which 
Getfrard  professed  to  rule,  forbad  the  white  man  to 
hold  landed  property  in  Hayti.  This  subject  was 
also  brought  forward  for  consideration  by  the  Presi 
dent  ;  modifications  were  proposed,  which  perhaps 
might  have  succeeded,  but  the  agitations  of  the 
country  increased,  and  the  subject  of  peace  and  war 
between  the  citizens  of  Hayti  absorbed  every  other. 


400 

The  following  message  of  President  Geffrard  to  the 
House  of  Representatives  and  Senators,  will  enable 
us  to  form  an  idea  of  the  general  state  of  things 
during  the  latter  part  of  his  Presidency. 

"  Gentlemen  of  the  House  of  Representatives : 

u  You  are  perfectly  aware  of  the  events  which  took  place 
in  the  course  of  last  month  at  Gona'ives,  Hinche,  Ouanaminthe, 
etc. 

k'  These  new  outbreaks  were  indeed  easily  put  down  and 
order  re-established,  but  they  have  had  the  effect  ot  renewing 
alarm  and  increasing  the  uneasiness  of  the  public  mind. 

''  These  events  are  not  solitary  or  far  apart  from  each  other ; 
they  are  evidently  the  continued  efforts  of  one  and  the  same 
unceasing  conspiration. 

"  In  the  beginning  of  these  unhappy  movements,  I  had  indulged 
the  hope  of  being  able  to  calm  the  violent  feelings  and  passions 
in  which  they  originated  by  a  course  of  policy  at  once  moderate 
and  generous,  but  in  this  I  have  been  disappointed ;  my  mode 
ration  has  been  interpreted  as  weakness,  and  my  generosity  as 
timidity. 

"  Still,  as  to  all  attacks  upon  myself  personally,  I  have  con- 
tinned  to  follow  the  conciliatory  course. 

"  Yet  the  persistency  of  these  factious  men  in  carrying  out 
their  designs,  and  the  ruin  upon  ruin  which  they  continue  to 
heap,  have  brought  on  circumstances  which  threaten  the  peace 
of  society  and  the  future  hopes  of  the  country. 

44  In  such  an  agitated  state  of  things,  I  should  be  wanting  in 
duty  if  I  did  not  suppress  the  finer  and  more  generous  feelings 
of  my  nature.  Henceforth  these  guilty  men  shall  receive  what 
they  seek;  my  hand  shall  no  longer  in  mercy  stay  the  sword 
of  justice  against  them. 

u  Amidst  such  unceasing  agitation  and  daring  attacks  upon 
the  public  peace,  you,  gentlemen,  must  have  noticed  a  fact, 
which  to  me  affords  singular  pleasure,  for,  while  it  is  the 
strength  of  our  Government,  it  must  at  the  same  time  fill  its 
enemies  with  despair.  I  refer  to  the  entire  calm  which  so  evident, 
ly  reigns  throughout  the  whole  of  the  peasantry  of  the  country, 


FEOM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  401 

who  are  still  pursuing  their  ordinary  course  of  industry  in  every 
commune  of  the  Republic.  With  an  admirable  good  sense  they 
have  resisted  the  tempting  and  ensnaring  promises  which  cor 
rupted  men  have  offered.  In  fact,  in  all  the  agricultural  dis 
tricts  these  base  intrigues  have  failed,  and  this  explains  the 
fact,  that  these  agitations  have  been  confined  simply  to  the 
places  where  they  have  broken  out. 

"  These  troubles,  agitations,  and  alarms,  I  repeat  it,  are  the 
work  of  one  and  the  same  conspiration,  carried  on  and  sustained 
by  a  handful  of  unhappy  men,  most  of  whom  have  lost  stand 
ing  in  society,  either  by  judiciary  condemnation  or  misfortunes 
which  have  been  the  result  of  their  own  imprudences,  but  all 
urged  on  by  blindness,  pride,  covetousness,  and  hate. 

"  This  party  has  evidently  two  centres  of  action,  the  first  of 
which  is  among  us,  its  purpose  being  to  diffuse  their  own  poli 
tical  views  and  tofoment  in  surrectionary  movements,  and  also 
to  gather  round  them  the  discontented  and  dissatisfied  of  all 
kinds. 

"  The  other  centre  is  on  foreign  shores,  formed  of  men  who, 
in  their  own  country,  were  divided  in  politics,  and  hated  each 
other,  but  now  being  animated  by  the  same  one  purpose  of  fabri 
cating  calumnies  and  falsehoods,  and  of  furnishing  ammunition?, 
arms,  and  money  to  the  disaffected  at  home,  with  a  view  to  ac 
complish  their  design. 

"  What  is  the  object  of  this  faction  ?  We  know  that  it  is  to 
displace  the  present  Government,  with  the  hope  of  gratifying 
their  own  selfishness. 

"  Hence,  what  are  its  plans?  In  a  correspondence  which  has 
been  intercepted,  one  of  the  leaders  expresses  himself  in  the  fol 
lowing  manner : 

"  '  The  Revolution  is  inevitable ;  it  will  be  bloody,  bitter, 
and  deeply  distressing,  because  of  the  various  shades  of  hatred 
made  uniform  by  one  fact,  viz.,  that  no  citizen  will  be  armed 
in  favor  of  the  tyrant,  etc.  Power  will  come  out  of  even  the 
inert.' 

"  This  is  their  platform.  We  seek  here  in  vain  for  names 
well-known  for  true  patriotism,  tried  and  proved  by  long  ser 
vice,  or  distinguished  by  personal  virtue  and  merit. 


402 

"  Behind  the  ramparts  of  the  city  of  Cape  Haytien,  the  cry 
was,  'Salnave!'  On  the  arrival  of  the  brave  General  Berthel- 
emy,  he  was  himself  proclaimed  to  be  the  man  of  their  choice. 
Before  the  city  of  Gonalves,  General  Guerrier  at  once  became 
their  man ;  and  each  day  will  doubtless  produce  another. 

"Only  calumny,  insult,  and  falsehood  are  heard  of;  but 
nothing  really  definite — not  one  new  thought,  nor  even  the 
form  of  a  system  that  would  inspire  the  assurance  that  the  fu 
ture  would  be  any  better  than  the  present ;  in  fact,  the  odious 
excesses  of  all  kinds  to  which  these  men  are  given  up,  are  such 
as  were  never  heard  of  at  any  former  period  of  our  history. 

"Assassination,  incendiarism,  pillage  of  both  private  and 
public  property — no  crime  is  too  great  for  them — and  to  crown 
all,  they  seek  to  place  the  guilt  of  all  their  aims  upon  the 
Government. 

"  In  vain  do  they  pretend  that  it  is  one  man  only  they  attack. 
No  one  will  or  can  be  deceived  by  so  low  a  subterfuge.  The 
fact  is,  that  it  is  upon  society  at  large  that  they  are  making 
war. 

"  My  aim  shall  be  to  protect  society,  by  the  fair  use  of  every 
means  which  the  Constitution  may  place  at  my  disposal ;  and 
the  ardor  and  constancy  of  my  defence  shall  be  in  proportion 
to  the  intensity  of  the  opposition  with  which  I  may  have  to 
contend. 

"  In  the  noble  task  which  is  imposed  upon  me  by  the  circum 
stances  which  surround  us,  I  shall  reckon,  gentlemen,  upon  your 
loyal  support. 

"  Dark  shades  indeed  appear  in  the  general  state  of  things  ; 
but  after  all,  they  are  only  to  be  found  here  and  there.  Tho 
position  of  affairs  in  the  Republic  at  large,  on  the  whole,  in 
spires  confidence — a  fact  which  demonstrates  that  we  are  dis 
turbed  by  a  faction  simply,  the  masses  being  quiet. 

"  For  more  than  a  year  past,  this  faction  has  declared  a  revo 
lution  to  be  on  the  eve  of  taking  place,  and  that  this  was  visi 
ble  at  every  point  of  the  political  horizon  ;  but  when  revolu 
tions  are  thus  imminent,  the  nation  rises  at  once,  and  no  longer 
waits. 

"  Here,  then,  we  have   an   audacious  minority  aiming  at  a 


FROM    HISTORICAL  NOTES.  403 

revolution ;  and,  unable  to  create  the  needful  enthusiasm,  they 
seek  to  lead  on  by  desperation. 

"  While  these  men  are  conspiring  and  laboring  to  ruin  the 
country,  the  people — the  true  and  faithful  people — are  enrich 
ing  themselves  by  industry.  Our  home  markets  are  full,  and 
our  exports  were  never  greater,  not  even  in  the  most  prosper 
ous  times. 

"  On  the  30th  of  last  June,  the  produce  of  half  the  year  only 
amounted  to : 

Coffee 40,000,000  Ibs. 

Cotton 2,000,000  " 

Woods 50,000,000  « 

Cocoa 2,500,000  " 

"  All  other  exports  being  in  the  same  proportion.  Let  the 
public  quotations  be  noted,  and  it  will  be  found  that  all  has 
been  as  remunerative  as  at  any  past  date. 

"Importations  perhaps  have  not  kept  up  in  the  same  propor 
tion,  in  consequence  of  our  deteriorated  currency,  the  cause  of 
which  will  easily  be  found  in  our  revolutions,  and  public  confla 
grations,  all  which  disasters  have  been  aggravated  and  increas 
ed  by  the  financial  difficulties  of  other  countries,  as  well  as  the 
war  in  Europe  which  is  just  beginning. 

"  It  is  hoped  that  the  fact  and  truth  of  things  now  before  the 
world,  will  have  the  effect  of  establishing  public  confidence,  and 
giving  general  assurance. 

"  I  was  anxious,  gentlemen,  to  show  you  the  solid  ground  on 
which  we  stand,  before  your  separation  for  your  various 
homes ;  persuaded  as  I  am  that  you  will  do  your  best,  in  your 
different  spheres,  to  tranquillize  the  public  mind,  and  to  discou 
rage  every  tendency  to  disorder,  which  is  so  thoroughly  ruinous 
to  all  interests. 

"  In  the  statements  which  I  have  now  laid  before  you,  I  have 
also  had  in  view  to  give  that  assurance  to  foreign  nations  which 
our  commerce  needs,  and  to  create  that  confidence  in  us  abroad, 
of  which  we  conceive  ourselves  to  be  worthy. 

u  Gentlemen,  in  taking  leave  of  you,  I  have  the  honor  of 
saluting  you  with  great  sincerity. 

(Signed)  "GEFFRARD." 


404:  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

Few  speeches,  from  either  thrones  or  Presidential 
chairs,  have  been  more  plain  and  straightforward 
than  the  one  now  before  us.  There  is  no  effort  here 
to  conceal  or  gloss  over  the  difficulties  or  real  state  of 
things  as  they  were  at  that  time. 

Hayti,  according  to  the  official  statements  now  be 
fore  us,  was  suffering  at  that  moment  from  great 
internal  convulsions,  which  were  now  viewed  with 
alarm  by  the  Government  itself;  nor  need  the  fact 
be  evaded  that  this  state  of  things  had  too  long 
shaken  all  interests. 

The  Message  now  before  us  shows  that  the  long 
and  continuous  attempts  at  change,  which  were  now 
beginning  to  shake  the  whole  frame-work  of  society, 
had  steadily  and  specially  kept  in  view  one  man  ; 
the  legitimate  enquiry,  therefore,  simply  is,  whether 
the  working  of  the  Haytian  Government  had  indeed 
been  under  the  direction  of  one  mind,  or  whether  all 
had  been  done  in  conformity  with  the  free,  the  fair, 
and  honest  working  of  laws  and  institutions,  to  which 
the  Executive  of  all  constitutional  Governments  is 
responsible,  and  without  which  anarchy  and  confu 
sion  must  result — which  no  plea  of  the  unfitness  of 
the  masses  could  justify.  Geffrard's  starting  point 
should  have  been  universal  moral  culture,  beginning 
with  his  own  Government.  This  would  have  saved 
both  him  and  his  country. 

Hayti  has  even  yet  to  learn  the  great  advantage  of 
allowing  every  division  of  power  and  authority  full 
play,  and  rendering  every  functionary  responsible  for 
the  right  working  of  his  department — thus  relieving 
the  chief  magistrate  of  an  immense  weight  of  respon 
sibility. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  405 

There  is  indeed  something  admirable  in  the  fact 
that  the  masses  of  the  people  were  generally  calm 
amidst  all  the  tumults  which  at  this  time  agitated  the 
Republic.  So  much  could  not  certainly  have  been 
said  of  the  late  Empire.  Here  the  masses  rose,  as 
well  as  the  higher  classes — a  sad  proof  that  the  gall 
ing  yoke  was  felt  by  all ;  hence,  as  we  have  seen,  not 
one  man  stood  by  the  falling  monarch.  The  masses 
were  indeed  in  this  case  unconscious  of  oppression, 
but  they  had  ever  been  left  stagnant  in  ignorance 
and  vice,  although  possessing  the  soundest  elements 
of  every  kind. 

It  may  be  seen  from  the  Presidential  message  now 
before  us,  that  there  is  ever  much  to  be  feared  from 
enemies,  which  have  either  been  banished  or  have 
banished  themselves,  to  escape  political  execution.  A 
man  exiled  will  in  all  probability  be  desperate  ;  and 
in  a  country  liable  to  revolutions,  the  numbers  com 
pelled  to  fly  would  probably  in  the  end  form  a  strong 
force  upon  a  foreign  shore,  and  even  become  dan 
gerous. 

France,  as  a  numerous  people,  might  indeed 
be  strong  enough  to  resist  almost  any  amount  of 
armed  exiles  which  she  might  have  ;  but  the  case  of 
a  weak  and  small  Government,  having  a  large  num 
ber  of  outside  enemies  in  the  position  of  exiles,  is 
very  different ;  while  the  intense  eagerness  to  return, 
and  the  bitterness  of  banished  men,  who  conceive 
that  they  are  innocent  of  crime,  will  be  easily  under 
stood. 

Commercial  and  industrial  activity  went  on,  not 
withstanding  the  paralyzing  circumstances  of  the 
country,  during  so  long  a  period.  The  male  popula- 


406 

tion,  however,  being  nearly  all  under  arms,  much 
would  inevitably  depend  upon  the  women  of  tire 
land  ;  nevertheless  this  would  show  how  highly  desi 
rable  to  such  a  people  must  be  a  permanent  peace. 
Could  but  a  healthy  national  tone  be  brought  about, 
there  would  probably  be  few  nations  of  the  same 
proportions  that  would  surpass  Hayti  in  general 
wealth. 

On  the  subject  of  importations,  as  referred  to  in 
the  Message  now  under  consideration,  we  have  only 
to  remember  that  with  regard  to  manufactures  of  any 
kind,  nothing  is  done  in  Hayti.  Hence,  soap,  lard, 
butter,  rice,  etc.,  are  all  imported,  simply  because 
the  energies  of  the  country  are  entirely  expended 
under  an  unhappy  military  system,  which,  while  it 
turns  everything  out  of  course,  as  to  general  produce 
and  industry,  at  the  same  time  corrupts,  demoralizes, 
and  in  fact  ruins  the  entire  youth  of  the  nation. 
Foreign  markets,  therefore,  are  resorted  to  on  a  scale 
that  would  never  have  been  needed,  if  arms  had  not 
been  the  great  occupation  of  the  nation.  In  fact,  the 
creation  of  a  class  of  mechanics  is  a  thing  almost  un- 
thought  of;  such  has  been  the  extent  of  this  national 
military  camp ;  hence  a  formal  apprenticeship  to  a 
trade  is  a  thing  almost  forgotten  under  present  cir 
cumstances,  although  at  one  time  something  of  the 
sort  existed  in  the  Republic. 

The  true  friends  of  Hayti,  both  native  and  foreign, 
are  compelled  to  admit  that  the  statements  now  made 
are  profoundly  to  be  deplored  ;  for  it  is  impossible 
not  to  feel  that  mankind  were  not  born  simply  to 
bear  arms. 

Upon  the  whole,  therefore,  the  official  document  of 


FEOM   HISTORICAL  NOTES,  407 

President  Geffrard,  already  considered,  shows  a  most 
unhappy  state  of  things.  The  entire  structure  of 
society  is  there  shown  to  be  shaken ;  all  minds  are 
agitated  ;  all  hopes  are  dim ;  the  very  money  of  the 
country  has  long  become  an  article  of  merchandize, 
and  is  ever  varying  in  value,  thus  showing  a  compli 
cation  of  things  from  which  it  will  require  no  small 
amount  of  talent  and  good  faith  to  extricate  the  na 
tion.  Nevertheless,  all  the  materials  for  the  forma 
tion  of  a  right  state  of  things  are  at  hand. 

The  people  need  only  a  fair  and  open  road,  with 
the  light  of  pure  Christianity  shining  upon  it,  and 
unrestricted  liberty  to  go  on — that  liberty  which  is 
unfettered  by  arms,  and  which  needs  only  a  Christian 
conscience,  in  the  right  sense  of  the  word,  to  render 
it  perfectly  safe. 

An  enlightened,  honest,  and  faithful  house  of  Rep 
resentatives,  teaching  and  compelling  the  Government 
to  do  its  duty,  would  prove  both  a  main-spring  and 
safety-valve  to  the  nation  ;  that  such  a  House  could 
be  found  in  Hay  ti  is  very  certain.  The  struggles  of 
all  nations  are  towards  this  point,  while  it  is  the  real 
ized  glory  of  both  England  and  the  United  States  ; 
nor  would  this  fail  to  make  Hayti  worthy  of  herself. 

But  the  surges  of  an  inevitable  revolution  were 
coming  on ;  rumors  and  agitations  increased ;  com 
merce  was  nearly  prostrate ;  only  men  in  arms  and 
military  uniforms  were  to  be  seen. 

Proposals  of  reform  were  now  abundant,  all  of 
which  were  accepted  by  the  Government,  which  was 
now  opening  its  eyes  to  what  ought  to  have  been 
seen  long  before.  All,  however,  was  now  some  two 
years  too  late. 


408  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

The  political  tempest  was  rising.  Troops  were 
hurriedly  sent  hither  and  thither.  Men  were  use 
lessly  harassed  and  fatigued,  until  decided  discontent 
and  disgust  became  manifest,  ending  at  last  in  a  most 
extraordinary  explosion  of  passion,  of  which  the  fol 
lowing  are  the  leading  facts  : 

It  wTill  be  remembered  that  a  military  corps  of 
riflemen  had  been  formed,  called  "  Tirailleurs  ;" 
they  had  been  the  great  hope  and  power  of  this  now 
reeling  Government.  Barracks,  on  a  comparatively 
large  scale,  had  been  built  for  them,  in  which  they 
were  to  be  lodged,  fed,  and  disciplined,  as  this  is 
understood  and  done  in  Europe ;  but  the  Haytian 
"  Tirailleurs "  were  not  prepared  for  such  military 
rigidity,  however  brilliant ;  their  pay,  too,  became 
irregular  and  uncertain  ;  their  food,  also,  which  was 
prepared  for  them,  was  a  great  source  of  discontent. 
Each  one,  previous  to  the  new  arrangement,  had  pre 
pared  his  own  food  in  his  own  way.  The  new  style 
was  to  them  loathsome.  These,  with  many  other 
sources  of  dissatisfaction,  had  prepared  them  to  im 
bibe  the  general  feeling  of  discontent  which  was  now 
animating  the  whole  nation. 

The  result  of  all  was  a  fearful  plot,  which  might  have 
swept  off  both  the  President  and  his  family.  Hence, 
during  the  night  of  the  22d  of  February,  1867,  the 
whole  city  of  Port  au  Prince  was  roused  by  the 
sound  of  volleys  of  musketry,  which  seemed  to  take 
place  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  palace.  The  fact, 
however,  was  soon  known  that  the  Tirailleurs  were 
pouring  out  their  fury  in  this  manner  by  firing  upon 
the  palace. 

Nothing  could  be  more  dreadful  than  this  frightful 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  409 

'rattle  of  fire  arms.  It  was  hoped  for  a  moment  that 
blank  cartridge  only  would  be  used  in  such  a  case ; 
but  the  ominous  whizzing  of  balls  through  the  air, 
while  they  convinced  all  to  the  contrary,  gave  at  the 
same  time  universal  warning  of  danger.  The  thought 
of  who  might  fall  at  the  national  palace,  was  har 
rowing  ;  and  this  was  greatly  augmented  by  the 
report  of  a  cannon  which  had  been  planted  before 
the  palace  by  the  insurgent  party,  and  which  was 
replied  to  by  the  Government ;  in  fact,  amidst  these 
flashes  and  reports  of  fire  arms,  with  the  exciting 
sound  of  balls  flying  through  the  air,  all  was 
alarm.  Some  innocent  ones  fell  in  the  streets,  and 
those  who  remained  in  their  dwellings  instinctively 
avoided  all  openings,  from  the  dread  of  flying 
balls. 

About  2  A.  M.  of  the  23d,  the  scene  was  most  ex 
citing.  The  firing  on  the  palace  then  began  to  cease, 
but  the  entire  city  was  in  an  uproar,  and  the  cry  of 
"  Vive  Salnave  !"  seemed  to  be  the  watchword.  In 
fact,  the  whole  population  appeared  to  be  wrought  up 
to  madness.  The  Tirailleurs  were  seen  by  the  bright 
moonlight  of  the  early  morning,  stalking  in  all  direc 
tions,  armed  and  in  small  companies,  without  order ; 
no  one  whatever  seeming  to  be  at  the  head  of  this 
mysterious  and  extraordinary  movement.  All  were 
giving  orders,  but  nothing  definite  could  be  perceived 
in  anything  that  was  done,  only  that  the  name  of 
Salnave  seemed  to  be  the  magic  soul  of  this  amazing 
movement. 

Day-light  came  on,  and  with  it  the  ascendency  of 
the  Government  authority,  which  now  pursued  who 
ever  might  be  found  as  having  been  engaged  in  this 


410  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

nocturnal  movement.  Some  few  were  found  in  one 
of  the  forts  at  the  northern  entrance  of  the  capital, 
among  whom  were  some  of  high  respectability.  Thir 
teen  in  all  were  shot  by  their  pursuers,  and  thus 
ended  this  unhappy  affair. 

The  power  of  the  Government  was  now  evidently 
broken.  The  military  corps  on  which  all  the  hopes 
of  the  Executive  had  leaned,  were  the  first  to  send 
the  national  ship  adrift  in  the  midst  of  the  tempest. 
The  gods  which  had  been  adored,  had  now  been  mys 
teriously  seized  with  fury ;  and  this  was  the  winding 
up  of  an  utterly  wrong  course  pursued  too  long,  by 
even  intelligent  men,  who  had  been  very  confident 
in  their  system  of  management,  and  their  knowledge 
of  their  people. 

On  the  morning  of  the  following  13th  of  March,  it 
was  found  that  during  the  previous  night,  President 
Geffrard,  with  his  entire  family,  etc.,  had  gone  on 
board  the  "  Destin,"  a  French  man-of-war,  then  in 
the  harbor  of  the  capital,  and  was  then  clear  of  the 
territory  of  the  Republic,  on  his  way  to  Jamaica. 

It  would  be  premature  to  say  much  at  present  of 
the  Government  which  followed  the  withdrawal  of 
President  Geffrard.  It  might,  however,  be  mentioned 
that  a  Provisional  Government  was  formed,  of  up 
wards  of  twenty  members  ;  that  this  was  superseded 
by  an  "Assemblee  Constituante,"  elected  by  the 
people  ;  that  a  new  C  onstitution  was  drawn  up  ;  that 
the  Presidency  for  life  was  abandoned  for  one  of  four 
years ;  reforms  on  a  large  scale  were  established, 
both  as  to  the  army  and  otherwise ;  the  press  was 
declared  to  be  entirely  free. 

But  reconstruction  and  consolidation,  in  such  a 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  411 

case,  can  only  be  the  work  of  time.  Doubtless  the 
past  will  at  last  become  the  great  teacher  of  Hayti. 
Commerce  and  contact  with  foreign  nations  will  and 
must  ultimately  sweep  away  many  hindrances  to 
prosperity ;  while  the  loud  calls  for  universal  educa 
tion,  will  rouse  the  nation  to  its  duty.  Christian 
Missions  will  doubtless  increase,  with  also  an  immi 
gration  which  will  bring  in  the  Christian  element, 
and  ultimately  raise  this  nation  to  that  high  level  of 
Christian  civilization,  of  which  it  is  well  known  to  be 
entirely  capable. 


CHAPTER    XIY. 

TttE   CAUSE  AND   CUKE   OF  HAYTIAN   REVOLUTIONS* 


Conspiracies,  which  seek  the  deep  hid  cave, 
To  blow  the  Revolutionary  flame, 
Are  oft  the  offshoots  of  the  Rulers'  frowns* 
On  the  loud  thoughts  of  a  free  people's  wilL 

IN  the  estimation  of  many,  Hayti  stands  answer 
able  before  the  world  for  her  many  revolutions,  nor 
is  it  presumed  that  she  is  not. 

On  this  subject  Hayti,  for  many  reasons,  has  long 
considered  herself  exceptional.  She  is,  however,  be 
fore  the  world,  and  it  is  to  be  expected  that  many 
will  judge  her  who  are  in  better  circumstances  to  do 
so  than  she  is  herself;  for  the  simple  reason,  that 
those  who  are  looking  on  upon  a  struggle  are  fre 
quently  better  judges  of  its  course  than  those  who 
are  actually  engaged  in  it,  and  are  therefore  ofttimes 
blinded  by  passion. 

If,  however,  Hayti  is  censurable  in  this  matter, 
she  can  only  be  so  in  the  same  sense  that  England, 
France,  America,  or  any  other  nation  might  be  ;  for 
it  is  undeniable  that  this  has  been  the  foolish  course 
of  all  nations  in  all  ages  of  the  world. 

Fearful  convulsions  of  humanity  constitute,  prin 
cipally,  the  texts  of  human  history ;  nor  can  it  be  de 
nied  that  the  finest  nations  of  the  age  have  arrived 
to  what  and  where  they  now  are  through  fierce  and 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  413 

bloody  struggles.  It  might,  indeed,  be  said  that  as 
to  Ilayti,  all  this  was  avoidable ;  but  however  true 
this  may  be,  it  cannot  be  more  so  than  of  every  other 
branch  of  the  human  race,  either  of  the  present  or 
past  ages  ;  hence  we  are  all  driven  to  the  conclusion 
that  we  have  to  do  with  facts  simply  as  they  are, — 
that  the  world,  through  all  its  generations,  might 
have  been  better,  cannot  be  doubted. 

Whether  Haytian  revolutions,  therefore,  or  any 
others,  were  unavoidable  or  not,  is  not  so  much  the 
question  at  present  as  whether  they  are,  in  any  sense, 
to  be  accounted  for,  or  whether  they  are  really  the 
mere  whims  and  freaks  of  an  immature  people. 
Such  an  inquiry,  while  it  is  only  just  to  Hayti,  might 
be  useful  to  its  future  generations  ;  for  it  must  be  ad 
mitted  that  the  great  cardinal  points-  of  right  and 
wrong  have  been  continually  lost  sight  of,  and  hence 
the  ever-recurring  necessity  of  pointing  out  the  rocks 
with  which  they  have  so  often  come  into  contact, 
and  on  which  they  sometimes  have  nearly  wreck 
ed  ;  thus,  at  the  same  time,  demonstrating  the 
only  sound  principles  upon  which  any  Government 
can,  with  safety  and  real  advantage,  direct  the  in 
terests  of  a  free  and  intelligent  people. 

It  will  help  us  greatly  in  this  investigation  to  call 
to  mind,  and  to  fix  it  well  in  our  thoughts  as  a  funda 
mental  principle,  that  in  every  branch  of  human  in 
terest,  whether  politics,  religion,  or  science,  there  are 
certain  cardinal  principles  which  cannot  be  departed 
from  or  violated  with  impunity  :  hence  the  inevitable 
law  of  lightning,  being  destructive  wherever  it  strikes 
with  power,  we  seek  safely  to  direct  its  course. 

We  are  not  pretending  to  anything  new  here — 


4:14  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCEj 

hence  we  note  that  principles,  as  cardinal  as  the  sun, 
present  themselves  for  every  system  of  right  Govern 
ment,  and  from  which  any  departure  will  involve 
such  fearful  consequences  as  no  amount  of  military 
power  \vould  be  able  to  control.  Public  opinion  is 
not  controled  by  arms — thought  is  not  to  be  silenced 
by  brute  force — human  interests  and  opinions,  in  a 
national  or  any  other  sense,  can  only  be  safely  guided 
by  the  great  principles  of  right.  Plain  as  all  this  is, 
Hayti  has  yet  to  learn  that  all  interests  of  every  kind, 
private  or  public,  must  yield  to  this ;  in  fact,  this 
itself  must  become  every  man's  interest,  and  what 
ever  Government  she  may  have,  which  cannot  sub 
mit  to  this,  must  fall. 

It  will,  however,  easily  be  understood  that  more 
proximate  causes  of  a  local  character,  bearing  with 
great  pressure  on  each  individual,  will  produce  their 
more  prompt  and  immediate  effects ;  hence,  the  do 
mestic  wrongs  of  slavery,  when  once  agitated,  promptly 
worked  out  their  results, — the  violent  death  of  Des- 
salines  also,  as  well  as  the  feuds  between  Christophe 
and  Petion,  may  be  reckoned  among  those  domestic 
national  strifes  which  are  so  often  met  with  in  his 
tory,  although  in  reality  unjustifiable  and  even  cen 
surable. 

The  task,  however,  which  we  now  propose  for  our 
selves  is,  to  explain  the  causes  and  the  cure  of  the 
Revolutions  of  Hayti. 

In  this  inquiry,  the  simple  principle  of  cause  and 
effect  will  form  the  ground-work  of  our  reasoning — 
avoiding  all  that  is  abstruse — plain  matter-of-fact  be 
ing  all  that  is  here  needed. 

The  causes  of  the  national  evils  in  question  lie  deep 


FROM  HISTOEICAL  NOTES.  415 

hid,  and  but  too  frequently  are  utterly  lost  sight  of. 
It  will,  however,  be  imperatively  necessary  to  bring 
them  out  into  open  day,  in  order  that  we  may  see 
our  way  clear  in  our  present  inquiry  ;  nor  are  they 
at  all  difficult  to  recognize,  notwithstanding  they  are 
not  found  upon  the  surface  of  things. 

True  liberty  is,  unquestionably,  found  in  the  An 
glo-Saxon  branches  of  the  human  race  ;  hence  our 
attention  will  frequently  be  drawn  in  that  direction. 
It  does,  indeed,  amount  to  a  truism  to  say  that  plain 
right  constitutes  the  pivot  on  which  every  honest 
Government  turns ;  and  yet  it  is  an  extraordinary 
fact,  that  some  of  the  greatest  vaunters  of  national 
liberty  in  Europe,  were  never  yet  free  !  and  have 
shown  themselves  to  be  even  incapable  of  liberty  in 
its  fullest  and  best  sense ;  hence,  plain  as  truth  and 
right  are,  they  are  the  very  principles  which  must  be 
unceasingly  preached  and  perpetually  held  up  to  the 
view,  not  only  of  the  statesman  and  merchant,  but  of 
every  class  and  condition  of  men,  such  is  the  wilful 
blindness  and  depravity  of  man,  especially  when  pri 
vate  interests  clash.  Yet,  no  plea  as  to  national 
habit  or  education,  can  be  accepted  for  the  simple 
violation  of  right,  either  on  the  part  of  peoples  or 
Governments ;  nor  will  any  consideration,  under 
such  circumstances,  shield  either  the  governing  or 
the  governed  from  anguish. 

It  has  not  fallen  to  the  lot  of  Hayti  to  have  an  An 
glo-Saxon  origin  or  training,  as  to  the  important  mu 
nicipal  details  which  seem  to  be  peculiar  to  that  part 
of  the  human  family  ;  and  yet  there  is  not  a  people 
more  prompt  to  recognize  and  distinguish  between 
the  great  cardinal  principles  of  right  and  wrong  on 


416  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

any  political  subject.  Hence  the  unceasing  plea  in 
Ilayti  itself,  as  well  as  elsewhere,  that  the  people  are 
not  prepared  for  that  which  is  simply  right,  is,  and 
has  long  been  a  starting  point,  from  which  much 
error  has  even  already  resulted.  In  fact,  it  has  ever 
shut  up  the  nation  within  limits  too  small  for  its 
just  moral  instincts ;  and  the  result  has  been,  what 
all  have  seen,  increasing  efforts  in  the  form  of  revo 
lutions,  to  break  them ;  thus  showing  its  instinctive 
vitality,  and  demonstrating  that  its  tendency  is  to 
stretch  beyond  its  narrow  bounds  ;  thus,  too,  showing 
that  the  true  wisdom  of  the  Statesman  lies  in  rightly 
guiding  and  developing  the  national  impulse.  Nor 
is  it  to  be  concealed  that  when  the  pent-up  crisis 
comes  on,  if  the  more  powerful  weapon  of  reason  is 
not  resorted  to,  it  will  be  laid  aside,  and  the  sword 
will  be  madly  seized. 

The  thought  that  the  Haytians  are  not  prepared 
for  plain  and  honest  dealing,  is  simply  one  among 
innumerable  other  errors  ;  and,  if  it  were  even  true,  it 
should  rather  be  the  most  powerful  reason  why  they 
should  begin  a  better  course.  But  this  is  one  of  the 
thoughts  of  former  times — one  by  which  slavery  itself 
was  upheld,  and  therefore  is  altogether  unbefitting 
the  present  day. 

It  must,  however,  be  remembered  that  by  the  peo 
ple  in  this  Republic,  is  to  be  understood  the  educated 
classes  ;  nor  need  there  be  any  hesitation  in  such  a 
case  ;  for,  notwithstanding,  the  most  uncivilized  un 
derstand,  feel,  and  are  indignant  at  injustice,  it  can 
not  be  supposed  that  the  details,  or  true  principles  of 
Republicanism,  are  even  remotely  understood  by  a 
mass  of  people,  which  a  false  and  unjust  policy  has 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  417 

allowed  to  be  shut  up  in  complete  ignorance  for  more 
than  half  a  century — an  error  which,  it  must  be  ad 
mitted,  brings  down  a  great  weight  of  censure  upon 
any  Government  making  the  slightest  pretensions  to 
Republicanism,  in  a  Christian  sense. 

The  descendants  of  Toussaint  1'Ouverture  have 
specially  to  remember  that  the  wide  range  of  all 
cardinal  principles  is  filled  up  with  minute  details  of 
every  kind,  inviting  close  attention,  and  forming  a  fit 
subject  for  study  and  research.  There  may,  indeed, 
and  will  be  differences  of  opinion  as  to  the  applica 
tion  and  working  of  principles  in  certain  details, 
arising  out  of  difference  of  climate,  habits,  etc.,  etc., 
but  with  regard  to  the  cardinal  principles  themselves, 
which  constitute  the  great  frame-work  of  the  general 
Government,  it  will  be  very  evident  that  they  can 
not  be  sacrificed  without  bringing  on  unnumbered 
woes.  Whatever  fails,  the  main  points,  serving  as 
pillars  to  sustain  the  whole  fabric,  must  stand  ;  free 
dom  must  exist — this,  indeed,  has  been  felt  in  Hayti. 
The  error  has  been  in  the  details.  Of  a  free  press 
and  free  speech,  a  certain  range  is,  indeed,  needful ; 
nevertheless  that  range,  limited  by  sound  sense,  must 
be  considered  as  affording  fair  and  honest  freedom. 

The  use  of  the  great  cardinal  luminary  can  be  mo 
dified  in  any  way  we  may  see  or  feel  to  be  necessary, 
but  its  presence  and  power  could  not  be  dispensed 
with  ;  and,  however  we  may  deem  it  necessary  to 
manage  its  rays,  it  must  fairly  shine. 

A  free  and  educated  people  will  become  restless  if 
the  sun  of  all  their  hopes — which  ought  to  be  their 
own  executive  government— becomes  obscured  by 
error,  and  the  chill  will  be  instantly  felt,  which  pre- 


418  HATTIAN  INDEPENDENCE, 

cedes  the  ultimate  fever  of  those  passions,  before 
which  all  reason  flies. 

It  may  be  considered  as  to  Hayti,  as  well  as  every 
other  country,  that  the  two  great  necessities  which 
may  be  called  cardinal  as  to  an  independent  people, 
are,  Freedom  and  Knowledge,  in  the  most  Christian 
sense,  as  attaching  to  all  parts  of  the  population, 
high  and  low,  and  wherever  these  elements  may  be 
wanting,  it  should  not  be  on  the  part  of  the  people, 
experience  having  long  taught  in  Hayti,  that  an 
ignorant  mass  will  become  both  a  snare  and  a  fetter 
to  any  free  government,  engendering  despotism, 
fraud,  and  vanity.  In  fact,  it  has  been  well  said  by 
a  great  orator  of  our  day  *  that  "  true  liberty  does 
not  come  from  governments,  but  from  the  people." 
Let,  then,  the  entire  people  be  raised  by  Christian 
education  to  the  true  level  of  their  own  interests. 

Under  a  Republican  form  of  government,  and 
especially  with  a  small  nation,  knowledge  must  be 
universal,  or  the  clashings,  where  all  are  political 
equals,  will  become  insupportable,  if  not  fatal.  In 
Hayti  a  fearful  vortex  has  sometimes  formed  itself 
between  the  two  extremes  of  ignorance  and  knowl 
edge,  and  history  has  shown  us  the  result. 

The  knowledge  which  combines  the  moral  elements 
and  which  alone  can  sustain  the  national  soul,  must 
be  from  God.  In  Hayti,  the  starting-point  of  moral 
principle  has  been  what  men  call  honor,  rather  than 
God  and  his  Word.  Experience  has  long  taught  us 
in  Hayti  as  well  as  elsewhere,  that  it  is  necessary  to 
lay  the  greatest  stress  on  this  point ;  intelligence 
being  more  dangerous  than  otherwise  without  sound, 
*  H.  W.  Beecber. 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  419 

well-founded  moral  principle.  There  must  be  a  well- 
recognized  "  higher  law;"  knowledge  in  this  sense 
may  safely  be  universally  diffused.  A  free  and  con 
stitutional  government  requires  this  : — each  man,  in  a 
right  sense,  then  becomes  sovereign  ;  and  being  well 
able  to  command  his  own  interests,  enriches  both 
himself  and  his  country.  And  yet,  strange  to  say, 
in  Hayti  it  is  admitted,  with  perfect  sangfroid,  that 
her  masses  are  in  the  deepest  ignorance.  How  such 
a  fact  can  be  viewed  and  admitted  by  any  Christian 
enlightened  government  or  enlightened  part  of  a 
community  without  the  deepest  solicitude,  is  inex 
plicable  and  strongly  indicates  that  some  one  main 
thing  is  wanting.  Nor  can  it  be  any  matter  of  sur 
prise  that  under  such  circumstances  a  withering 
element  should  be  felt  throughout  the  nation ;  its 
energies  under  such  circumstances  cannot  acquire 
tone,  strength,  or  development;  in  this  sense  the 
wheels  of  the  national  interests  in  Hayti  have  ever 
been  clogged.  Hence  the  status  of  the  Republic  has 
ever  been  low,  even  to  humiliation,  while  material 
for  revolutions  has  consequently  been  inevitable, 
abundant,  and  ever  increasing. 

The  want  therefore  of  moral  culture,  and  universal 
education  diffused  through  the  entire  population,  has 
been  Hayti's  great  and  constant  misfortune. 

Doubtless,  a  measure  of  these  advantages  has  ever 
existed  in  the  Republic ;  and  it  is  undeniable  that 
there  are  characters  of  real  worth  in  Hayti,  but  all 
is  partial  and  limited  ;  while  wide-spread  ignorance 
among  the  great  majority  of  the  people  has  undeni 
ably  been  a  fearful  source  of  woe.  The  religion  of 
the  heart  has  been  wanting,  and  pride  and  avarice 


420  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

have  possessed  education  and  power — thus  creating 
in  ignorance  both  suspicion  and  envy.  The  educa 
tion  which  Christ  sent  his  disciples  to  give  to  every 
creature  has  been  imperfectly  given  in  Hayti,  and 
men,  instead  of  turning  their  swords  into  plough 
shares,  and  thus  bringing  out  the  national  wealth, 
have  turned  them  upon  each  other,  thus  paralyzing 
every  interest  and  shaking  every  hope. 

Certain  it  is,  that  had  the  people  of  Hayti  been 
from  the  beginning  Republicans,  in  the  true  and 
full  sense  of  the  term,  with  her  masses  enjoying  but 
a  moderate  degree  of  light  and  knowledge,  as  to  Re 
publican  citizenship  and  individual  sovereignty,  they 
had  unquestionably  been  vastly  different  in  all 
respects  to  what  they  now  are ;  while  they  had  by 
this  means  shunned  many  a  revolutionary  conflict, 
and  saved  some  hundreds  if  not  thousands  of  ban 
ished  exiles ;  sound  moral  principle  had  formed  the 
domestic  circle,  thus  increasing  and  consolidating 

j  O  O 

the  general  interests  and  respectability  of  the  nation, 
and  giving  it  its  right  stand  among  the  most  pros 
perous  nations  of  the  world.  So  true  is  it,  that  manly 
piety  and  public  virtue  promote  the  interests  of  the 
human  family.  But  Hayti  has  ever  remained  not 
only  in  ignorance  as  to  her  masses,  but  a  prey  to  the 
vilest  and  most  degrading  superstitions.  The  range 
of  national  knowledge  has  ever  been  limited  to  the 

O 

few,  who  from  the  commencement  of  the  national 
career,  have  invariably  left  to  the  ruling  powers  the 
task  of  enlightening  the  great  bulk  of  the  people  as 
to  general  education.  The  education  received  by  the 
few,  whether  acquired  in  Hayti  or  elsewhere,  has  not 
been  of  such  a  nature,  either  religiously  or  politically, 


FKOM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  421 

as  to  inspire  sympathy  or  uneasiness  for  the  sunken 
masses,  or  lead  them  out  among  the  rural  population 
to  diffuse  the  light  they  had,  or  in  any  sense  to  bet 
ter  their  moral  condition.  With  truth  may  it  be 
said,  that  of  such  an  education  there  exists  but 
very  little  idea  in  Hajti ;  notwithstanding  this,  to  an 
immense  extent,  is  the  style  of  education  in  the  great 
neighboring  Republic  of  the  United  States,  where 
the  aim  and  tendency  is  the  education  of  every  indi 
vidual  in  the  nation,  especially  in  a  moral  sense,  by 
means  of  Sunday-schools,  and  by  even  the  moral 
structure  of  society ;  nor  is  this  simply  the  work  of 
the  clergy. 

The  education  of  the  few  in  Hayti,  has  been  pro 
ductive  of  a  high  sense  of  superiority,  engendering  a 
vast  amount  of  pride,  while  at  the  same  time  the 
institutions  of  the  country  have  .taught  the  most 
ignorant  an  absolute  and  entire  equality,  thus  placing 
both  classes  in  a  false  position  with  each  other.  Nor 
does  this  fact  fail  to  produce  the  most  unhappy 
effects,  leading,  as  it  does,  the  most  ignorant  and 
incapable  to  aspire  to  honors  and  duties  of  which 
they  are  utterly  incapable.  Nor  will  it  be  difficult  to 
understand,  that  with  the  idea  of  equality — in  the 
absence  of  education — instilled  into  the  mind  by  the 
very  institutions  of  the  country,  failure  in  reaching 
office  and  emolument  would  ultimately  engender  a 
revolutionary  spirit.  Hence,  the  ignorance  of  the 
masses,  with  their  well-understood  claims  to  equal 
ity,  renders  the  utmost  caution  necessary  on  the 
part  of  the  Government  in  appointing  to  posts  of 
office  and  honor. 

In  fact,  in  such  reflections  we  are  reminded   at 


4:22  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

every  turn  that  Christian  moral  culture  is  the  one 
thing  needful  for  mankind.  Literary  education, 
never  yet  formed  the  conscience  of  any  nation  ;  for 
this  there  must  be  a  well-adapted  training,  by  the 
inculcation  of  such  moral  truths  as  unfold  the  eternal 
destinies  of  man  ;  nor  can  it  be  questioned  that  horror 
of  sword-revolutions  would  result  from  really  Chris 
tian  moral  culture. 

The  necessity  of  moral  education  is  now  acknowl 
edged  ;  it  is  felt  that  the  mere  development  of  the 
intelligence  cannot  meet  the  wants  of  general,  and 
especially  commercial  life,  where  all  is  paralyzed 
without  sound  moral  principle  and  good  faith.  In 
fact,  its  want  is  ruin  to  all  interests. 

Hope  of  internal  national  reform,  even  after  the 
most  deadly  revolutionary  conflicts,  is  and  must  be 
lost  while  the  general  elements  remain  the  same. 
It  seems  not  to  be  sufficiently  understood  and  felt  in 
Hayti,  that  her  disease  is  moral,  and  cannot  be  cured 
by  the  sword.  Mere  changes  of  men,  although  to 
some  degree  useful,  will  not  reach  the  case.  Nothing 
real  or  complete  can  be  accomplished  while  the 
general  elements  and  principles  remain  the  same. 
Never  was  language  more  correctly  applied  to  a  na 
tion,  "  Ye  must  be  born  again." 

We  come  then  to  the  conclusion,  that  the  first 
great  cause  of  revolutions  in  Hayti  has  been  of  a  ne 
gative  kind  ;  the  right  elements  of  society  have  been 
absent,  and  the  results  need  occasion  no  surprise. 
There  has  been  a  moral  void,  which  has  been  filled 
up  with  a  chaos  of  evil,  from  which  innumerable  woes 
have  sprung  forth  ;  reasonings  without  end  have  fol 
lowed — some  have  wished  one  tiling,  and  others  have 


FROM  HISTORICAL   NOTES.  4:23 

declared  another — politicians  have  brought  out  their 
theories,  and  aged  men  have  given  their  experience, 
but  each  one  has  thought  that  Hayti  was  not  yet  pre 
pared  for  the  theory  of  the  other. 

Those,  however,  who  have  studied  the  systems 
of  liberty  which  are  considered  to  be  the  honor  and 
glory  of  the  present  age,  do  not  hesitate  to  declare 
that  the  principles  of  free  government  have  never  yet 
been  understood  in  Hayti.  The  worn-out  pretexts 
that  Hayti  is  not  yet  prepared  for  freedom  in  such  a 
style  or  sense  has  long  thrown  liberty  into  the  shade 
as  something  rather  to  be  feared  than  otherwise — in 
fact,  as  something  impossible  for  Hayti.  Nor  does 
it  seem  ever  to  have  been  understood  that  the  un 
ceasing  risings  and  heavings  of  the  nation  plainly 
indicate  the  deep  need  of  the  thing  refused. 

The  leading  idea  of  a  true  Republic  is,  that  the  people 
govern  ;  in  Hayti  the  leading  idea,  up  to  the  present 
time,  has  been  that  the  executive  governs.  Under 
really  Republican  institutions,  the  people  discuss 
political  questions,  both  privately  and  publicly,  as 
being  their  own  special  interest  and  concern,  relating 
quite  as  much  to  them,  and  even  more,  than  to 
the  executive ;  but  in  Hayti,  for  more  than  sixty 
years,  it  has  been  supposed  that  conversations  on 
political  questions  or  open  discussions,  would  be 
dangerous,  and  therefore  are  not  to  be  tolerated.  Bet 
ter  days  doubtless  will  come,  but  such  has  been  the 
past. 

The  natural  and  inevitable  consequence  of  such 
views  has  been,  that  public  opinion  has  been  frowned 
down.  It  is  indeed  possible  to  forbid,  and  even  hin 
der  its  public  expression,  but  its  formation  and  silent 


HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

working  are  beyond  the  power  of  man  to  control ; 
thought  will  and  must  be  free.  To  compel  its  secrecy 
by  endless  ramifications  of  espoinage,  or  any  other 
means,  is  simply  adding  fuel  to  fire,  which  in  the 
end  will  explode  in  some  revolutionary  form,  and 
those  who  thought  themselves  the  most  secure,  will 
be  the  first  to  writhe  under  the  effects  of  their  snaky 
proceedings. 

A  press,  dumb  by  command  of  the  ruling  power, 
speech  forbidden,  and  the  very  thoughts  threat 
ened  with  a  sort  of  woe  to  all  who  dare  to  think 
aloud  on  political  questions,  are  simply  the  compo 
nent  parts-  of  a  political  volcano  which  must  in  the 
end  break  forth  with  great  violence.  Nor  does  it 
seem  ever  yet  to  have  occurred  to  the  Government 
of  Hayti,  that  in  these  matters  they  have  hitherto 
been  pursuing  an  impossible  course,  or  that  by  pro 
hibiting  speech,  and  almost  thought,  they  have  made 
themselves  the  authors  of  the  revolutions  by  which 
they  have  been  so  repeatedly  overthrown. 

To  an  Anglo-Saxon,  it  would  seem  something 
almost  superfluous  to  say,  that  the  free  and  honest 
working  of  the  Representative  system  is  of  paramount 
importance,  or  that  if  this  be  in  any  way  interrupted 
great  evils  must  inevitably  result.  It  is  true,  that 
in  great  Britain  the  sovereign  holds  the  power  to 
dissolve  Parliament,  but  the  re-election  of  members 
is  left  free  to  the  unrestrained  choice  of  the  people  ; 
in  fact,  the  object  of  the  dissolution  of  the  English 
Parliament,  on  the  part  of  the  sovereign,  is  to  re- 
consult  the  mind  of  the  nation.  Hence  the  freely 
chosen  representative  body  becomes  the  tongue  of 
the  people,  the  nation's  safety-valve,  through  which 


FEOM    HISTORICAL   NOTES.  425 

all  revolutionary  elements  escape.  Happy  are  the 
people  where  the  national  mind  is  free,  and  whose 
institutions  allow  free  vent  to  those  passions  which 
among  human  beings  are  inevitable. 

It  is  probable  that  the  starting-point  of  all  Petion's 
difficulties,  apart  from  the  great  error  of  establishing 
a  life  Presidency,  was  the  breaking  up  of  the  Bep- 
resentative  Senators,  which  doubtless  he  could  not 
have  done  had  he  not  held  the  sword.  This,  too,  was 
the  rock  on  which  Boyer  struck  ;  nor  is  it  a  little 
remarkable,  that  after  so  much  experience  GeiFrard 
also  should  have  followed  in  the  same  train.*  In 
each  case  dissatisfaction  seized  the  whole  nation ; 
this  great  constitutional  wheel  checked  in  its  move 
ments,  all  in  each  case  went  wrong,  and  the  climax  of 
of  the  evil  was  revolution,  yea,  and  in  each  case  hav 
ing  the  Government  for  its  source. 

One  of  the  secrets  of  the  bad  working  of  good 
institutions  in  Hayti  has  been  the  undeniable  fact 
that  Government  influence  has  too  much  interfered 
in  the  general  elections,  an  evil  the  more  inexcusable 
from  the  fact  that  able  men  in  this  Republic  are  not 
wanting,  of  all  shades,  who  are  perfectly  capable  of 
entering  fully  into  all  "the  wants  and  necessities  of 
their  country.  Hence,  the  Executive  has  executed 
its  own  will  rather  than  that  of  the  people,  and 
despotism,  which  has  ultimately  seen  no  hope  but  in 
the  sword,  has  been  the  result. 

With  a  free  and  fairly  working  House  of  Repre 
sentatives  all  else  will  become  of  secondary  import 
ance,  justice  fully  and  ever-reigning  will  satisfy  ;  yea, 

*  It  is  true  that  the  Constitution  of  the  Geffrard  Government 
gave  the  Executive  the  power  to  dismiss  the  Representatives. 
This  step,  however,  was  ultimately  fatal  to  him. 


4:26  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

such  a  government  becomes  the  idol  of  the  people, 
revolutions  are  shunned,  and  the  road  to  progress  is 
left  wide  open  and  kept  clear  for  advancement  of 
every  kind. 

The  conclusions,  therefore,  from  our  present  reason 
ings  become  inevitable,  that  a  government  interfering 
in  any  way  with  the  free  elections  of  the  people,  with 
a  view  to  dictate  or  in  any  way  control,  becomes  at 
once  revolutionary.  In  fact,  it  is  a  conspiracy  against 
the  people,  which,  as  Hayti  has  long  seen  by  sad  ex 
perience,  leads  on  to  most  fearful  evils.  The  prin 
ciple  involved  here  then  is  fundamental,  any  viola- 
lation  of  it  is  inexcusable,  while  its  ruinous  effects 
will  be  inevitable. 

In  Hayti,  the  people  have  ever  been  taught,  that 
they  are  free  and  independent,  in  fact  sovereign,  and 
yet  their  Governments  have  seemed  to  believe  that 
the  people  are  unprepared  for  what  they  have  ever 
been  taught  to  expect :  in  such  cases  the  force  of 
arms  will  fail ;  nor  will  there  be  the  slightest  right 
to  complain  of  restlessness,  ingratitude,  or  revolution 
ary  tendencies  on  the  part  of  the  people.  Their  sure 
and  certain  aim  will  be  the  overthrow  of  the  Govern 
ment,  which  is  unfaithful  to  its  own  institutions,  and 
all  effort  to  stifle  thought  or  hush  the  public  voice, 
has  so  far  been  found  to  be  useless.  Cardinal  prin 
ciples  departed  from  by  the  Executive  will  have 
prepared  the  way  for  its  own  fall ;  it  would  require 
willful  blindness  not  to  see  that  this  is  the  spirit  and 
tendency  of  the  age ;  arms  in  civil  government  are 
becoming  useless,  and  must  disappear.  Hence, 
armies  meet  in  Hayti,  but  oftentimes  a  sense  of 
right  compels  them  to  fraternize. 


FKOM   HISTOKICAL   NOTES.  427 

"Want  of  higher  moral  tone  in  Hayti,  and  the 
absence  of  that  Republican  boldness  which  dares  to 
speak  out,  is  infinitely  to  be  deplored.  A  man  here 
will  whisper,  and  at  last  draw  the  sword  ;  nor  will 
he  perhaps  hesitate  as  to  his  own  life,  while,  as  a  con 
sequence,  he  will  expose  many,  but  he  will  not  before 
hand  abjure  the  sword  and  speak  out  unarmed,  not 
withstanding  his  greatest  protection  would  then  be, 
that  he  was  not  a  conspirator,  and  that  he  simply 
meant  right,  but  openly. 

Those  who  know  Hayti  best,  have  ever  been  of 
opinion  that  the  Haytians  are  a  mild  and  easily 
governed  people ;  perhaps  this  will  not  even  be  dis 
puted.  What  then  shall  be  said  of  the  great  political 
strifes  of  Hayti  ?  The  answer  is  simple  and  easy :  If 
the  people  are  such,  let  the  Government  itself  be 
straightforward  in  its  course,  and  the  people  will  not 
derange  it;  but  otherwise,  let  no  one  expect 
peace,  not  even  from  a  people  otherwise  peaceably 
disposed. 

Another  cause  of  anxiety  and  agitation  in  Hayti, 
has  come  from  her  many  banished  ones  on  foreign 
shores.  Political  offenders  have  generally  been 
exiled,  or  knowing  that  their  lives,  as  such,  have 
been  at  stake,  they  have  fled,  until  at  last  a  great 
opposing  power  has  been  formed  outside,  which 
never  ceases  to  exert  its  utmost  energies  against  the 
Government  which  may  have  driven  them  away. 

In  a  small  nation,  it  will  be  easily  understood  that 
opposing  influences  from  the  exterior  would  be  more 
sensibly  felt  than  in  the  case  of  a  larger  nation :  each 
banished  one  will  have  his  sphere  of  influence  in  his 
native  land,  where,  by  means  of  unceasing  eorres- 


4:28  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

pondence,  he  will  perpetually  work,  until  some  great 
gap  in  the  existing  Government  is  made  by  some 
false  step,  perhaps  brought  on  by  exiled  hate.  Some 
forty  or  fifty  of  influence  thus  exiled  and  forced  from 
their  native  shores,  would  be  sufficient  to  keep  a 
small  nation  in  constant  agitation,  especially  if  the 
sympathies  of  the  great  political  parties  of  the  nation 
are  with  them,  as  will  invariably  be  the  result  of  any 
false  political  measure  which  may  have  been  adopted 
by  the  Government. 

In  reference  to  Haytian  exiles,  it  should  be  noted 
that  in  most  cases  they  are  supported  by  their  friends 
and  families  in  their  native  land;  a  circumstance 
and  fact  which  will  keep  alive,  on  all  sides,  the 
keenest  sense  of  dissatisfaction,  and  render  the  gen 
eral  elements  of  things  and  circumstances  yet  more 
conflicting  and  dangerous.  In  fact,  the  banished 
ones  will  never  cease  to  hover  about  their  native 
shores  and  eagerly  watch  the  favorable  opportu 
nity  when  some  one  in  sympathy  with  them  shall 
raise  the  standard  of  revolt,  and  they  themselves 
shall  be  able  to  come  in  again  upon  some  dreadful 
revolutionary  wave  by  which  they  may  help  to  over 
throw  the  power  which  drove  them  hence ;  and  an 
other  start  is  made,  perhaps  to  end  in  precisely  the 
same  manner, — a  danger  which  will  ever  threaten 
while  the  revolutionary  aim  is  rather  a  change  of 
men  than  of  principle.  Nothing  indeed  can  be  more 
deplorable;  the  more  so,  from  the  fact  that  the 
remedy  for  such  evils  is  so  simple  and  ever  at  hand, 
which  is  simply  to  follow  out  the  general  common 
sense  of  mankind. 

But  the  main  cause  of  the  revolutions  of  Ilayti  has 


FROM   niSTOEICAL   NOTES.  429 

unquestionably  been,  that  system  of  slavery  which  is 
called  the  military  system.  A  soldier  in  Hayti,  as 
in  every  other  country,  does  not  belong  to  himself,  he 
is  a  slave,  in  however  honorable  a  sense.  In  Hayti, 
however,  it  must  be  admitted  that  want  of  discipline, 
education,  etc.,  etc.,  makes  it,  for  the  private  soldier, 
even  degrading.  Hence,  a  nation  in  such  a  sense, 
altogether  military,  cannot  be  either  free  or  noble. 
If  those  who  adore  the  sword  are  to  perish  by  it, 
what  shall  we  say  of  Hayti?  Truly  her  safety  is 
in  justice  and  reason. 

It  is  probable,  indeed,  that  some  of  the  measures 
ot  Petion,  although  good  in  themselves,  would  never 
have  been  carried  had  he  not  been  conscious  of  his 
military  power.  Nevertheless,  it  nfust  be  admitted 
that  this  was  a  most  unhappy  starting-point,  especi 
ally  when  it  is  remembered,  that  as  first  President, 
every  measure  of  his  would  serve  as  a  precedent  to 
posterity.  His  purposes  and  intentions  were  doubt 
less  good,  but  even  a  good  measure  carried  out  by 
wrong  means  in  a  civil  government,  will  lead  both 
the  present  and  future  generations  wrong. 

It  is  indeed  true,  that  up  to  the  present  time,  it  has 
been  deemed  impossible  to  manag"e  public  affairs  in 
this  Republic  without  arms  to  back  up  the  civil 
power ;  but  however  true  this  may  be,  its  perpetuity 
is  impossible ;  reason  must,  and  ultimately  will,  tri 
umph  over  brute  force. 

Had  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  began  their  national  ca 
reer  with  the  sword,  America  had  by  this  time  been 
a  fearful  scourge  to  herself  and  to  the  whole  earth. 
So  powerful  a  nation,  perpetually  armed,  and  with 
an  army  in  the  same  proportion  to  her  general  popu- 


430  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

lation  as  in  Hayti,  the  entire  of  the  new  world  had 
ere  this  been  desolated.  The  world  may  indeed  bless 
God  for  the  moral  character  of  the  founders  of  the 
United  States  of  America  ! 

The  case  of  Hayti  has  indeed  been  different ;  but 
it  is  nevertheless  evident  that  the  course  she  has 
pursued  has  brought  on  revolution  upon  revolution, 
until  she  scarcely  knows  how  to  exist  at  all ;  and  in 
fact,  in  the  absence  of  those  national  safety-valves 
which  the  free  working  of  free  institutions  affords, 
she  will  be  compelled  to  turn  her  arms  at  intervals 
upon  her  own  citizens,  and  in  the  name  of  law,  hurry 
them  out  of  existence. 

It  is  not,  however,  difficult  to  understand  that  a 
nation  composed  of  three  such  divisions  as  exist  in 
Hayti,  should  have  suffered  from  despotism,  in  some 
form  or  other,  for  so  many  years  ;  in  fact  it  seems  to 
have  become  a  settled  conviction  with  many  Hay- 
tians  that  Hayti,  mild  as  her  people  are,  must  be 
ruled  by  an  iron  hand.  This,  however,  has  no  doubt 
been  the  source  of  all  that  has  afflicted  the  country. 
A  people  who  have  fully  learned  that  they  are  free, 
will  not  fail  to  break  any  iron  hand  to  shivers. 

The  following  seem  to  be  the  three  great  divisions 
already  referred  to,  as  making  up  the  general  state  of 
things  in  the  Haytian  Republic : — 

1.  The  masses  in  deep  ignorance. 

2.  A  general  military  bias,  with  a  great  army. 

3.  An  educated  class,  composing  the  minority. 
Supposing  the  more  enlightened   minority  to  be 

well  disposed  to  govern  on  the  principles  of  Repub 
licanism,  their  principles  and  motives  would  ever  be 
in  danger  of  being  misunderstood  by  the  uneducated 


FROM   HISTORICAL  NOTES.  431 

masses,  which  have  been  left  to  themselves  in  a  man 
ner  which  posterity  will  never  justify  ;  nor  would  the 
army  itself  be  very  much  disposed  to  listen  to  the 
idea  of  being  simply  the  servant  of  the  nation,  and 
thus  yield  the  entire  power  to  the  civil  magistrate. 

Protestations  against  the  military  system  have  been 
frequent  in  Hayti,  but  thus  far  they  have  fallen  to 
the  ground,  and  every  attempt  to  put  down  arms  has 
only  increased  them ;  in  fact,  to  govern  without 
them  has  longbeen  thought  to  be  impossible  in  Hayti  ;* 
notwithstanding  it  is  perfectly  evident  that  under 
their  pernicious  shadow  the  civil  institutions  lose  their 
power ;  innumerable  corruptions  rush  in,  until  all 
becomes  insupportable,  and  the  sword  is  again  wield 
ed  to  destroy  the  wretched  progeny  of  evil  which  it 
has  created — which,  failing  to  do,  as  is  generally  the 
case,  the  whole  Eepublic  becomes  a  military  camp ; 
general  officers  are  increased,  until  the  vitals  of  the 
country  are  eaten  out,  and  freedom  dies  amidst  the 
cry  of  "  Yive  la  Liberty  I"  Hence  the  noblest  inten 
tions  have  failed  ;  banishments  have  resulted,  and 
unhappy  victims  have  been  judged  and  cut  down  as 
political  offenders. 

Executions  for  political  offences  have  no  doubt 
powerfully  contributed,  among  many  other  causes,  to 
the  frequent  revolutions  of  Hayti,  having  unques 
tionably  increased  the  evil  they  were  intended  to 

*  Impossible,  for  two  reasons  :  1st,  The  uneducated  have  been 
from  their  infancy  so  accustomed  to  see  authority  of  every  kind 
in  military  uniform,  that  they  would  scarcely  have  any  conception 
of  it  in  a  plain  dress.  2d,  Each  revolutionary  party,  on  succeed 
ing,  having  compensated  its  abettors  by  conferring  military 
honors,  they  have  become  permanent,  by  an  obstinate  refusal  to 
give  them  up,  and  bear  them  as  honorary, 


432  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

cure.  In  fact  the  imposition  of  silence  upon  a  people 
by  such  means,  on  all  political  questions,  robs  a  na 
tion  of  its  true  dignity ;  espionage  becomes  necessary 
to  a  Government  under  such  circumstances,  and  will 
impress  upon  a  people  a  most  unhappy  character. 

The  freer  the  nation,  the  more  open  will  generally 
be  even  the  individual  character. 

There  is  a  withering  power  in  the  use  of  arms,  in 
the  internal  government  of  a  country  ;  before  them, 
reason  is  dumb,  while  neither  the  Government  nor 
the  people  are  safe. 

The  remedy,  therefore,  for  the  evils  of  Hayti,  is  notfto 
be  found  in  arms  ;  and  the  Government  which  cannot 
stand  without  them,  is  in  a  most  unhappy  case,  for  it 
exists  necessarily,  in  such  a  case,  upon  a  fearful  vol 
cano.  Arms  cannot  convert  wrong  into  right,  nor 
can  they  give  permanency  to  any  false  system  ;  right 
must  ultimately  triumph  ;  arms  before  it  are  mere 
straws ;  they  doubtless  have  their  place,  but  there  is 
no  freedom  under  their  rule. 

If,  then,  the  sword  belongs  to  the  people,  and  not  to 
any  one  man,  let  them  say  how  it  should  be  used  ;  let 
the  Executive  consult  them  through  their  institu 
tions,  to  which  he  has  sworn  fidelity. 

The  institutions  of  Hayti,  faithfully  worked,  would 
supersede  revolution,  while  they  would  secure  every 
reasonable  amount  of  freedom  to  the  citizen.  This 
too  is  what  is  sought  and  desired.  In  fact  the  strug 
gles  of  the  Haytian  people  have  had  for  their  object 
and  end  the  free,  fair,  and  full  working  of  their  own 
institutions,  notwithstanding  much  evil  has  mingled 
with  all  their  revolutionary  movements. 

It  is,  however,  declared,  both  by  foreigners  and 


FKOM   HISTOKICAL   NOTES.  433 

natives,  that  the  Haytians,  as  a  people,  are  far  behind 
their  institutions.  Such  a  fact  of  any  people  must 
be  deplorable,  because  it  seems  to  suppose  the  neces 
sity  of  a  despotism  of  some  kind  and  degree,  and 
seems  to  explain  the  sense  in  which  an  iron  hand  has 
long  been  thought  to  be  necessary  in  the  management 
of  Hayti. 

Let  the  Government  of  Hayti,  with  the  President 
at  its  head,  be  composed  of  men  who  are  at  their 
posts  with  honest  motives,  resolved  to  lay  aside, 
whenever  it  is  necessary,  their  own  private  interests 
and  views,  having  solely  in  view  to  serve  their  coun 
try  ;  submitting  themselves  to  an  independent  Senate, 
and  an  honestly  and  freely  elected  House  of  Repre 
sentatives,  which  would  truly  represent  the.  intelli 
gence  of  the  nation  ;  free  from  all  military  influence, 
keeping  the  army  in  its  right  place,  purely  as  the 
servant  of  the  nation — and  it  would  soon  be  see  a 
whether  the  Haytians  are  prepared  or  whether  they 
are  not  for  honest,  fair  and  straightforward  work,  on 
all  sides.  In  fact  there  is  absurdity  in  supposing  that 
any  people,  even  though  ignorant,  should  not  be  pre 
pared  for  transparent  honesty,  which  has  ever  been 
adored  by  mankind,  whether  wise  or  ignorant. 

That  there  is  unpreparedness  in  Hayti,  is  evident ; 
but  let  the  common  sense  of  mankind  judge  in  this 
matter,  and  let  the  Haytians  themselves  be  in  earnest 
in  their  own  best  interests. 

The  cardinal  principles  by  which  a  country  should 
be  governed  are  evident  as  the  sun,  and  the  range 
within  them  is  vast.  Details  of  every  Republican 
variety  will  here  be  found,  perfectly  capable  of  being 
adapted  and  modified  to  both  the  people  and  the  cli- 


4:34:  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE) 

mate;  but  the  great  cardinal  points  can  never  be 
departed  from,  without  fearful  consequences,  nor  will 
there  nor  can  there  be  any  peace  in  Ilayti,  until  the 
fundamental  principles  of  right  Government  are 
practically  carried  out,  and  faithfully  adhered  to, 
both  by  the  Government  and  people. 

Whatever,  therefore,  may  be  wanting  in  Ilayti, 
there  needs  no  reasoning  to  prove  that  the  people  are 
perfectly  prepared  to  receive  the  happiness  and  pros 
perity  which  right  everywhere  reigning  would  con 
fer  upon  them,  leaving  them  at  the  same  time  at 
liberty  to  enrich  their  country,  by  enriching  them 
selves  ;  that  any  people  would  be  better  prepared  for 
such  a  state  of  things,  than  to  be  ever  groaning  under 
a  galling  military  yoke,  needs  no  reasoning. 

If,  then,  it  is  certain  that  a  Government  in  Ilayti, 
sound  in  its  general  principles  and  administration, 
would  secure  the  peace  of  the  country,  then  it  be 
comes  a  question  whether  the  people  are  right  or 
wrong  in  demanding  it,  and  whether  they  would  be 
men  in  the  full  sense  of  the  word,  if  they  did  not. 
That  this  has  been  the  general  sense  of  Haytian  revo 
lutions,  cannot  be  doubted ;  the  fact,  however,  that 
they  have  ever  failed  in  securing  the  object  in  view, 
ought  now  to  teach  the  Haytians  themselves  that 
there  are  means  for  correcting  abuses  far  more  pow 
erful  than  the  sword ;  and  if  the  national  existence 
is  not  to  cease,  this  must  be  studied,  understood,  and 
practised  in  Ilayti. 

There  can  indeed  be  no  doubt  but  that  senseless 
ambition  has  played  its  part  in  all  the  past,  nor  is  it 
to  be  supposed  that  this  will  be  easily  annihilated  ; 
but  wide-spread  Christian  education,  and  the  fair 


FROM  HISTORICAL  NOTES.  435 

working  of  the  national  institutions,  would  greatly 
circumscribe  the  limits  of  pernicious  and  empty  pre 
tension  ;  and  if  this  be  the  fact,  then  is  the  conclu 
sion  inevitable  that  both  the  cause  and  the  cure  of 
Haytian  revolutions  are  evident. 

It  must,  however,  be  admitted  that  the  fact  of 
revolutions  is  a  proof  of  the  existence  of  error  some 
where.  Certain  it  is  that  the  Executive  of  Hayti 
has  not  generally  considered  himself  the  servant  of 
his  country,  in  a  Republican  sense  ;  rather  the  chief 
magistrate  has  considered  himself  as  ruler  and  mas 
ter,  forgetting  at  the  same  time  that  he  who  will 
have  all,  and  do  all,  must  be  responsible  for  all. 

Our  reasonings,  therefore,  bring  us  to  one  great 
conclusion,  which  is  simply  that  whichever  party  in  a 
nation  is  not  in  harmony  with  the  cardinal  principles 
of  a  fully  recognized  and  universally  received  Con 
stitution,  is  revolutionary,  whether  it  be  the  Govern 
ment  or  the  people. 

In  the  case  of  the  great  French  "Revolution,  it  is 
evident  that  the  people  were  revolutionary,  they 
being  resolved  to  change  the  existing  system  of 
things,  by  which  they  had  been  governed  for  ages. 
"Whether  the  people  were  right  or  wrong  in  this  case 
is  not  the  question  before  us  at  this  moment ;  but  it 
may  be  fairly  questioned  whether  this  has  been 
generally  the  sense  of  the  Haytian  revolutions — they, 
in  nearly  all  cases,  having  had  their  source  in  the 
national  complaint  that  neither  the  Constitution  nor 
the  institutions  of  the  country  had  been  adhered  to, 
and  fairly  carried  out,  for  the  true  advancement  of 
the  people. 

The  fair  lay,  therefore,  of  the  question  now  before 


436  HAYTI  AN   INDEPENDENCE, 

us,  is  whether  the  people  of  Hayti,  or  the  Govern 
ments  which  have  presided  over  them,  have  been 
revolutionary  ? 

It  is  impossible  to  suppose  that  the  fair  working 
and  honest  administration  of  popular  laws  and  insti 
tutions,  should  be  productive  of  revolutions ;  hence 
it  will  at  once  appear  that  the  Haytian  revolutions 
have  not  been  the  result  of  the  mere  whims  and 
freaks  of  the  people,  yet  it  cannot  be  denied  that 
they  have  been  frequent  ;*  we  therefore  are  driven 
to  the  conclusion  that  sound  moral  principle  has  been 
wanting  where  it  was  most  needed. 

Our  final  conclusion  is,  that  the  cure  for  revolu 
tions  is  preventive  ;  this  will  be  found  in  knowledge 
and  freedom,  in  the  sense  already  explained.  Chris 
tianity  firmly  and  deeply  planted  in  the  heart  of 
every  child  in  the  Republic,  by  means  of  primary 
education,  with  woman  raised  to  her  just  elevation 
in  society,  is  the  only  salvation  of  Hayti. 

*  It  may  be  worthy  of  notice  that  the  revolutions  of  Hayti  have 
been  fewer  than  those  of  either  its  immediate  neighbor,  Dominica, 
or  those  of  Mexico  and  the  Republics  of  South  America,  as  will  be 
seen  from  the  following  statement : 

From  the  fall  of  Dessalines,  which  occurred  in  1806,  all  was 
comparative  peace  until  the  revolution  of  1813,  showing  an  inter 
val  of  upwards  of  thirty  years.  From  the  fall  of  Riviere,  which 
was  simply  a  continuation  of  the  revolution  of  1843,  until  1844, 
all  was  comparatively  easy  until  the  fall  of  Soulouque,  1859,  with 
the  exception  of  the  case  of  President  Pierot  in  1846,  which  could 
scarcely  be  called  a  revolution,  showing  a  period  of  fifteen  years. 
The  Government  of  Geffrard  continued  from  1859  to  1867. 

It  is  true  the  national  spirit  must  be  characterized  as  restless  ; 
but  the  neighboring  Republic  of  Dominica,  as  well  as  that  of 
Mexico  and  those  of  South  America,  have  been  not  only  unceas 
ingly  restless,  but  their  revolutions  have  been  more  yearly  than 
otherwise  ;  nor  are  we  to  forget  that  the  national  convulsions  of 
both  America  and  Europe  have  been  sufficiently  frequent  and  fear 
ful  !  These  are  awful  facts,  condemning  all  alike. 


CHAPTEK    XT. 

AFRICAN   CHARACTER   AS   DEVELOPED   IN   HAYTI. 

From  deepest  shades  of  ever  lowering  fiends, 
To  brightest  seraphs'  ever  glowing  tints, 
The  proof  of  oneness  through  our  race  is  seen, 
Of  every  hue. 


IT  may,  perhaps,  be  demanded  whether  the  scenes 
through  which  we  have  passed  in  the  "  Historical 
Notes  and  Sketches  of  Hayti,"  now  before  us,  and 
which  have  led  us  through  so  much  of  blood,  ambi 
tion,  and  revenge  are,  in  any  sense,  favorable  to  the 
African  character  ? 

The  question  is  a  fair  one — it  demands  attention  ; 
and,  although  many  have  come  to  fearful  conclusions 
in  these  matters,  the  friends  of  truth  and  humanity, 
who  are  no  respecters  of  persons,  and  are  disposed  to 
look  upon  the  great  family  of  man  as  being  "  of  one 
blood,"  have  only  to  let  the  history  of  the  world 
speak  for  itself  on  this  great  question. 

It  is,  indeed,  a  strange  and  singular  fact,  that  to 
many  of  fair  and  honest  views,  this  question  has  al 
ways  appeared  to  be  one  of  great,  and  even  dreaded 
embarrassment ; — this  may  arise  from  a  tendency  to 
view  it  in  an  isolated  sense,  whereas  the  plain  truth 
is,  that  we  have  only  to  deal  with  this  branch  of  hu 
man  history  as  we  would  with  any  other — and  the 
answer  to  the  great  question,  so  fairly  proposed,  will 


438 

be  found  in  the  simple  fact,  that  it  is  by  one  and  the 
same  road  that  men  of  all  nations  and  colors,  in  all 
ages,  have  arrived  at  whatever  has  been  deemed 
great  or  grand. 

That  there  is,  and  ever  has  been,  a  more  excellent 
way  to  true  greatness  than  the  one  that  has  generally 
been  chosen  by  nations  and  individuals,  is  very 
certain.  This,  however,  is  not  the  matter  now  before 
us.  But  the  broad  and  unmistakable  fact  is  evident 
that  the  White  branches  of  the  human  race,  although 
numerically  in  the  minority  in  the  great  family  of 
man,  have  waded  through  the  crimson  sea  of  war  in 
its  basest  and  fiercest  sense,  and  through  woes  which 
no  mere  mortal  could  detail,  to  arrive  at  what  has 
generally  been  understood,  even  by  some  of  the 
greatest  of  our  race,  as  dignity  and  grandeur. 

Yea,  dark  and  sanguinary  has  been  the  "White 
Man's  career,  throughout  the  whole  course  of  time. 

Unless,  therefore,  the  Black  Man  is  a  superior  be 
ing  to  his  lighter  brother,  he  will  not  be  better — 
worse,  he  cannot  be.  And,  if  all  men  are  of  one  blood, 
as  inspiration  has  long  taught  us  is  the  case,  then  we 
may  expect  everywhere,  and  in  all,  the  same  dark 
labyrinth  of  intrigue,  and  the  same  blood-stained 
course. 

Incapacity  to  govern,  it  is  still  said,  and  even  pro 
claimed  by  some  of  the  highest  authorities  of  the 
earth,*  is  evident  in  the  Black  races ;  nor  need  any 
fear  or  hesitate  to  admit  this  fact,  which  will  be  found 
to  be  far  more  general  than  has  been  thought  it 
has,  and  still  does  apply  to  all  mankind  in  their  first 
attempt  to  govern,  and  has  ever  continued  to  do  so, 

*  President  Johnson's  "  Message." 


FBOM    HISTORICAL  NOTES.  439 

until  thought,  experience,  and  education  have 
brought  about  a  better  state  of  things  ;  hence  the 
most  crushing  despotisms  have  been  carried  out  with 
the  minutest  and  most  persevering  tenacity  by  the 
wisest  of  all  the  past ;  and,  even  at  the  present  mo 
ment,  it  is  undeniable  that  Europe  has  still  immense 
ly  to  learn  and  to  do  in  this  great  work  of  real  free 
dom  and  true  government. 

The  ages  which  it  has  taken  the  "White  Man  to 
learn  what  he  now  knows,  and  to  arrive  at  what  he 
now  is, — and  he  has  still  much  to  do  and  to  undo  as 
to  the  true  principles  of  free  Government, — afford 
a  sufficiently  humiliating  proof  of  universal  want  of 
capacity,  in  some  sense  and  at  some  period,  especially 
in  the  sense  in  which  it  has  generally  been  applied 
to  Hayti,  for  really  right  national  Government ;  nor 
is  it  possible  to  fix  on  any  one  branch  of  the  human 
family  which  has  not  passed  through  a  most  im 
perfect  and  trying  infancy  on  this  subject.  Hence, 
in  the  long  study  of  ages  on  this  great  question,  what 
errors  have  not  been1  committed  by  immatured  Gov 
ernments  !  and  what  anguish  have  they  not  inflicted 
in  the  name  of  law  and  right ! 

The  vast  family  of  man,  like  the  large  family  of  a 
single  pair,  show  the  most  opposite  differences  of 
character,  capacity,  and  style ;  a  fact  which  amaz 
ingly  displays  Creative  wisdom,  which  has  made  so 
vast  a  variety  in  living  intelligence  compatible  with 
equality  in  its  most  essential  and  noblest  sense,  and 
in  fact  opens  to  us  a  volume  of  beneficial  results  to 
mankind. 

It  must,  therefore,  be  expected  that  the  course  of 
the  Black  Man  will  be  the  same  as  that  of  all  the  rest 


44:0  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

of  mankind  of  every  hue,  as  in  fact  it  has  been.  In 
deed,  one  of  the  greatest  demonstrations  of  the  homo 
geneity  of  the  human  family  is  found  in  the  fact  that 
the  vices  of  all  are  the  same,  as  to  general  depravity ; 
while,  at  the  same  time,  the  fact  is  now  acknow 
ledged  that  the  same  great  moral  cure  for  man  which 
is  found  in  Christ,  and  his  truth,  faithfully  applied, 
and  unreservedly  received,  is  found  to  be  adapted 
alike  to  all,  and  is  every  where  the  power  of  God 
unto  salvation. 

It  might  be  demanded,  why  has  not  Hayti  fol 
lowed  the  examples  of  free  Governments,  which  form 
the  glory  of  the  age,  and  which  she  has  so  long  had 
before  her  ?  This,  doubtless,  was  her  duty.  But  of 
what  nation,  out  of  England  and  the  United  States 
of  America,  might  not  this  be  said  in  a  greater  or 
lesser  degree  ?  And,  even  of  the  two  last  named  coun 
tries,  who  would  say  that  they  are  perfect  ? 

Up  to  the  present  time,  therefore,  it  is  evident  that 
the  same  moral  level  has  not  been  attained  by  all 
men,  nor  have  all  the  intelligem  of  the  earth  sur 
mounted  their  weaknesses  and  prejudices.  The  great 
fact  that  vice  and  virtue  are  relative  to  God  alone, 
and  not  to  man  or  circumstances,  has  yet  to  be  more 
fully  studied.  There  is  still  a  tendency  to  applaud 
in  Cromwell  what  would  be  condemned  in  Toussaint 
1'Ouverture,  and  to  allow  that  to  be  grand  in  Na 
poleon  the  I.  which  would  be  looked  upon  as  barba 
rous  in  Dessalines.  There  is,  indeed — as  has  already 
been  said — a  more  excellent  way  to  all  that  is  great 
and  good  ;  but  both  the  Black  and  White  Man  have 
equally  shown  perversion  from  truth  and  justice — 
they  have  each  followed  their  own  way ;  and  in- 


FROM  HISTORICAL   NOTESx  44:1 

trigues,  dark  and  foul,  have  marked  the  course  of 
both. 

The  da}'  has  evidently  come  when  all  distinctions 
of  color  must  cease,  in  every  aristocratic  sense,  and 
when  all  must  be  lost  in  the  simple  truth,  that  man 
is  every  where  the  same.  Hence,  if  the  scenes 
through  which  we  have  now  passed  in  following  out, 
although  in  a  limited  manner,  the  history  of  the  Hay- 
tian  Republic,  have  been  scenes  of  humiliation  and 
woe,  as  they  unquestionably  have  been,  we  have 
simply  to  remember  that  this  is  Man,  whether  in  Eu 
rope  or  Africa.  Light,  moral  and  intellectual, 
must  now  make  its  way  through  the  earth,  until  the 
true  level  and  sense  of  universal  equality  shall  be 
found,  understood  and  maintained,  with  dignity  to 
each  and  safety  to  all. 

It  might,  indeed,  be  thought  that  what  has  been 
said  of  the  White  Man,  as  to  the  wars  and  sangui 
nary  means  by  which  he  has  arrived  at  the  entire 
lordship  of  the  earth,  applies  equally  to  the  savage, 
who  has  done  but  little  else  than  shed  blood  ;  yet, 
that  it  is  to  be  observed,  that  the  White  Man  has  ad 
vanced  in  civilization  with  his  wars,  while  the  savage, 
with  all  his  blood  shed,  has  remained  as  he  was. 
There  is,  indeed,  truth  in  this  ;  but  if  we  are  to  de 
cide  here  on  which  side  lies  the  greatest  amount  of 
guilt  and  crime,  whether  on  the  side  of  those  who 
knew  better,  or  on  the  side  of  those  who  knew  no 
better — it  will,  doubtless,  become  an  awkward  case 
for  many  of  the  most  polished  and  refined  among 
men. 

The  truth,  therefore,  is,  that  more  or  less  of  the 
fiend  attaches  to  all  men,  civilized  and  savage ; — 


442  HATTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

hence  all  men,  wise  and  ignorant,  neetl  alike  that 
power  of  God  which  alone  can  confound  the  reigB 
of  sin  ;  a  power,  compared  with  which,  all  human 
creeds  are  mere  weakness,  whether  national  or  other 
wise.  Men  morally,  whether  they  live  in  forests  or 
cities,  are  poor,  blind  and  miserable ;  nor  can  any 
thing  be  more  evident  than  that  man  by  wisdom 
never  yet  knew  God.  The  healing  of  the  nations  is 
with  God,  whose  need  is  every  where  felt,  and  who 
has  nowhere  left  himself  without  a  witness. 

The  fair  question,  therefore,  before  us  is,  whether 
there  has  ever  been  any  true  tendency  in  Hayti  to 
wards  progress  ?  Whether  there  has  ever  been  any 
proof  of  the  presence  of  a  developing  element  in  the 
nation  ?  And  whether  it  has  shown  any  due  claims 
to  any  degree  of  dignity  ?  Should  it  appear  that  the 
root  and  power  of  real  progress  do  exist  among  this 
people,  the  amount  or  degree  of  general  advance 
ment  and  national  development  will  become  of  sec 
ondary  importance — the  tree  really  possessing  life 
and  vital  power  will  rise  and  expand,  however 
slowly. 

These  thoughts  will,  very  naturally,  lead  us  back 
for  a  moment  to  the  commencement  of  the  national 
career. 

Here,  then,  justice  demands  that  the  elements, 
morally  and  intellectually,  which  made  up  the  gen 
eral  state  of  things  when  Hayti  first  declared  her  In 
dependence,  should  be  fairly  considered. 

The  scene  which  such  a  retrospect  view  brings  be 
fore  us,  is  not  very  easy  of  description.  We  here 
see  a  great  mass  of  human  beings  which  had,  for 
some  few  years,  tasted  the  sweets  of  liberty,  now 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  443 

threatened  with  the  renewal  of  the  woes  and  pangs 
of  slavery.  They  were,  indeed,  ill  prepared  for  free 
institutions ; — they  were,  nevertheless,  prepared  for 
all  that  was  fair  between  man  and  man ;  and  they 
were  more  than  prepared  to  resist  the  renewal  of 
their  former  chains.  Surely,  the  full  details  of  such 
a  state  of  things  would  require  something  beyond 
human  power;  and  yet  this  was  Hayti's  starting-point 
as  a  nation.  A  greater  chaos  could  scarcely  be 
imagined.  Such  were  the  materials  with  which  the 
founders  of  this  Republic  had  to  build  up  the  nation. 

Nevertheless  when  the  Whites,  with  all  their  bril 
liant  aristocracy,  and  their  most  studied  refinements 
of  ease  and  luxury,  withdrew  from  Hayti,  did  the 
Black  Man  really  return  to  savage  life,  as  his  for 
mer  oppressors  often  had  declared  he  would  ? 

To  say  that  the  progress  expected  has  not  been 
realized,  is  simply  to  say  what  no  one  denies ;  nations 
do  not  grow  up  to  maturity  suddenly  ;  nor  is  this  the 
order  of  nature  in  any  thing. 

Certainly  it  cannot  be  said  of  Toussaint  1'Ouverture, 
and  many  others  of  his  day,  that  they  in  any  sense 
retrograded ;  in  fact,  it  might  be  said  of  this  dis 
tinguished  Black  Chief,  that  he  had  a  horror  of  re- 
trogradation ;  and  it  cannot  be  denied  that  his 
companions  in  arms  were,  many  of  them,  remarkable 
and  highly  useful  men  in  their  day.  History,  indeed, 
shows  that  in  those  days  which  tried  men's  souls, 
Hayti  possessed  men  of  extraordinary  character,  tact, 
and  courage. 

That  the  case  of  Hayti  on  the  question  in  hand,  is 
one  of  great  singularity,  will,  perhaps,  be  admitted  ; 
and,  perhaps,  posterity  may  discover  that,  upon  the 


whole,  she  has  rather  deserved  applause  than  cen 
sure,  in  so  far  raising  a  national  edifice  of  the  most 
unpropitious  materials  which  could  have  been  found. 

If,  therefore,  a  correct  judgment  is  to  be  formed  in 
this  matter,  it  must  be  by  a  due  consideration  of  the 
elements  which  made  up  the  general  state  of  things, 
at  the  national  starting-point. 

Had  the  Haytians,  when  once  left  to  themselves 
by  their  former  White  rulers,  abandoned  the  institu 
tions  of  their  predecessors,  it  would  doubtless  have 
been  in  perfect  harmony  with  much  that  had  been 
predicted  of  them  by  those  who  thought  themselves 
their  only  saviors.  This,  however,  was  not  the  case ; 
they  not  only  sustained  all  that  they  thought  good 
of  the  former  order  of  things,  but  they  did  for  them 
selves  what  no  one  else  could  do  for  them — they  re 
modeled  the  political  and  social  theories  of  men, 
whom  they  deemed  greater  than  themselves ;  and, 
having  abolished  all  that  was  aristocratic,  they 
adapted  all  to  simple  Republicanism. 

Attempts,  it  is  true,  at  Monarchy  have  been  made, 
but  they  have  proved  abortive  and  have  failed. 

Slavery  and  despotism  fell ;  the  ancient  order  of 
things  ceased ;  the  ground  was  cleared,  and  the  gi 
gantic  task  of  re-casting  and  re-modeling  the  entire 
order  of  things  remained  to  be  accomplished. 

The  men  who  had  long  been  deemed  incapable, 
and,  according  to  many,  were  to  have  sunk  into  ob 
livion  or  something  worse,  undertook  the  great  work 
of  re-construction  ;  how  they  succeeded,  we  leave  the 
page  of  history  to  detail.  Certain  it  is,  that  Repub 
licanism  took  the  place  of  the  lowest  and  most  de 
grading  form  of  despotism,  and  the  laws  and  institu- 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  445 

tions  were  adapted  to  the  general  system  of  national 
liberty. 

Nor  were  the  founders  of  this  newly-formed  Re 
public  inadequate  to  the  great  task  of  a  fair  distri 
bution  of  lands,  which  had  now  become  the  property 
of  the  Republic — a  measure  of  no  small  magnitude  ; 
which,  as  may  be  seen  by  history,  was  so  managed 
and  directed  as  to  create  at  once  a  Commonwealth, 
give  identity  to  the  nation,  and  render  it  solid. 

Truly  there  were  no  elements  of  savage  life,  or 
tendency  in  that  direction,  in  the  re-forming  of  the 
whole  system  of  jurisprudence,  and  its  adaptation  to 
the  new  nationality.  This,  indeed,  may  not  have 
been  done  according  to  the  Anglo-Saxon  idea  of 
things,  but  it  required  no  ordinary  men  to  follow  out 
the  amazing  complications  of  French  law. 

That  all  this,  and  much  more,  with  all  fiscal  ar 
rangements  creating  the  pecuniary  resources  needful 
for  their  support,  should  have  been  well  and  fully 
carried  out,  is  the  best  proof  needed  that  the  founda 
tions  of  this  national  edifice  were  well  laid,  by  a 
race  of  men  who  were  deemed  incapable  ;  yea,  even 
by  their  own  fathers  deemed  incapable,  so  far  as  to 
be  by  them  denied  even  the  rights  of  men ! 

It  must  here,  however,  be  remembered  that  the 
presence  of  high  French  families,  both  in  the  army 
and  in  the  civil  ranks  of  life,  had  undoubtedly  pro 
duced  educational  effects  on  many  of  the  Blacks, 
while  the  sons  of  the  wealthy  White  Colonists  had 
been  allowed  the  advantages  of  a  Parisian  education. 

It  has  been  said  that  the  Haytians  found  every 
thing  prepared  for  them  ;  it  has,  however,  also  been 
said  that  Africans,  left  to  themselves,  go  back  again 


446  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

to  savagism.  The  last  statement  is  simply  unworthy 
of  notice.  In  the  presence  of  Ilaytian  history,  with 
regard  to  the  former,  let  the  inquiry  be  started,  "Who 
were  the  originators  of  civilization  ?  or  have  there 
ever  been  any  at  all  ?  has  not  civilization  rather  de 
scended  from  father  to  son  ?  has  not  the  ordinary 
course  been,  that  each  succeeding  generation  has 
gone  a  step  beyond  its  predecessors  ?  Was  it  then 
necessary  to  a  fair  test  in  this  case,  that  Hay  ti  should 
have  been  cut  off  from  the  common  order  of  God  and 
nature  ?  Those  who  reason  thus,  would  then  exact 
from  Hayti  the  proof  that  she  was  something  more 
than  human. 

What  has  any  nation,  in  this  sense,  that  she  has 
not  received,  however  much  she  may  have  improved 
the  gift  of  heaven  ? 

It  is,  indeed,  true  that  pride  and  jealousy  arrayed 
the  Haytians  against  each  other  soon  after  their  In 
dependence,  and  that  national  fratricide,  in  the  form 
of  civil  war,  convulsed  every  thing.  Deplorable, 
however,  as  this  was,  it  is  a  remarkable  fact,  and  one 
specially  worthy  of  notice,  that  the  two  great  parties 
into  which  Hayti  at  this  time  was  unhappily  divided, 
were  each  animated  by  a  true  spirit  of  progress — 
hence  each  one  aimed  at  sustaining  the  cardinal 
principles  of  true  and  constitutional  Government. 
Indeed,  the  emulation  between  the  northern  King 
dom  and  the  western  .Republic  is  too  great  a  fact  in 
Ilaytian  history  to  need  further  comment  here ;  and, 
whatever  there  may  have  been  to  deplore  on  either 
side,  and  especially  on  the  side  of  Christophe,  cer 
tainly  in  neither  case  can  it  be  said  that  there  was 
any  tendency  to  savage  life  ;  in  fact,  Petion's  great 


FROM  HISTORICAL   NOTES.  447 

motto  was,  that  "  education  raise.d  man  to  his  proper 
dignity"  !  And,  although  it  must  be  confessed  that 
Hayti  has  not  fully  acquitted  herself  in  carrying  the 
principle  of  this  great  motto  to  its  full  extent,  or  in 
fact  in  any  other  respect  as  to  general  progress  and 
civilization,  yet  the  truth  has  ever  been  before  the 
world,  that  both  Commerce  and  Education  have  un 
ceasingly  gone  on,  however  slowly,  or  however  im 
perfectly  ;  nor  can  it  be  said  that  their  results  are 
not,  to  a  great  degree,  manifest. 

Supposing,  therefore,  that  the  Haytians  merit 
every  censure  as  to  civil  wars,  revolutions,  and  gen 
eral  want  of  progress,  that  has  been  passed  upon 
them  both  by  their  friends  and  their  foes,  they,  after 
all,  have  only  walked  over  the  old  beaten  track  of  all 
mankind  in  all  past  ages,  from  the  days  of  Adam 
down  to  our  own  times.  True,  indeed,  this  is  wrong, 
whether  in  an  individual  or  nation,  and  cannot  in 
any  sense  be  justified ;  but  if  he  only,  in  this  case, 
who  is  innocent,  is  to  cast  the  first  stone,  not  a  tongue 
would  dare  move  against  Hayti :  we  must,  however, 
say  of  her  that  she  is  not  blind  to  her  own  faults. 

It  is  then  evident  that  the  Black  Man  of  Hayti  is 
no  more  affected  as  to  his  dignity  as  a  man,  by  the 
course  lie  has  pursued  in  a  national  sense,  than  is  the 
White  Man,  who  has  so  often  been,  and  in  so  many 
cases  still  is  in  precisely  the  same  case,  only  that  the 
amount  of  guilt  is  greater  in  the  latter  than  in  the 
former,  from  the  simple  fact  of  far  higher  preten 
sions. 

The  fact,  therefore,  remains  undeniable,  that  the 
elements  of  true  civilization  have  ever  been  preserved 
in  Hayti.  They  may  have  been  misused,  misapplied, 


4:48  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

and  misunderstood,  and  error  may  have  produced  a 
thousand  evils,  but  the  aim  and  intention  of  the 
ruling  parties  have  undoubtedly,  upon  the  whole, 
been  good. 

The  frame-work  of  the  national  system  has  been 
in  general  in  harmony  with  the  age.  Hence  the 
representative  system  has  always  in  some  sense  ex 
isted,  and  men  of  capacity  have  not  unfrequently 
come  forth.  The  press  has  been  unceasingly  at  work, 
not  indeed  always  freely,  but  its  use  has  ever  been 
highly  appreciated.  The  style  of  social  life,  notwith 
standing  innumerable  discouragements  arising  from 
such  a  vast  amount  of  ignorance  in  the  nation,  which 
at  times  would  seem  to  chill  everything,  and  fill  the 
Republic  with  mutual  distrust  and  suspicion,  has  not 
gone  down. 

Marriage  has  unquestionably  gained  ground,  and 
its  national  effect  will  be  seen  in  the  fact,  that  in 
families  at  all  respectable,  female  morality  and  honor 
are  well  sustained. 

Wealth  has  greatly  accumulated,  a  fact  which 
affords  the  fullest  assurance  that  whenever  fair 
national  circumstances  of  permanent  peace  shall  bless 
the  Republic,  the  love  of  gain  will  soon  change  the 
whole  face  of  things,  and  raise  many  to  great  pos 
sessions. 

Education,  also,  although  it  has  not  reached  the 
masses,  principally  because  they  have  not  availed 
themselves  of  their  own  free  national  schools,  which 
are  everywhere  open  to  them,  and  have  been  estab 
lished  at  their  own  national  expense  for  their  chil 
dren,  is  nevertheless  widely  extending  amongst  both 
sexes ;  while  the  idea  is  often  broached  that  it  should 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  44:9 

be  universally  obligatory,  a  measure  which  ought 
doubtless  to  have  begun  with  the  nation. 

Whether  the  European  education  which  thousands 
of  the  youth  of  Hayti  have  received  since  the  com 
mencement  of  the  Republic,  has  upon  the  whole  been 
preferable  to  a  good  home  education,  as  to  the 
country  generally,  might  perhaps  be  considered  an 
open  question.  The  fact,  however,  that  many  of  the 
Ilaytian  youth  have  returned  to  their  country  with 
much  European  vice  as  well  as  literature,  will  not 
surprise.  Superior  knowledge  in  such  cases  might, 
however,  be  expected,  which,  together  with  a  well- 
sustained  education  received  by  many  at  home,  will 
show  a  united  power  of  intelligence,  which,  if  well 
directed  by  sound  moral  principle,  would  tell  upon 
the  country.  These  facts  assume  the  highest  im 
portance,  when  it  is  remembered  that  the  Haytian 
Republic  has  ever  consisted  of  two  distinct  classes — 
the  one  comparatively  well  educated,  the  other  not 
at  all.  Hence  the  great  bulk  of  the  people,  in  their 
deep  ignorance,  are  and  must  be  far  below  their  true 
level  as  Republicans ;  an  unhappy  fact,  which  has 
already  produced  its  ill  effects  ;  such  circumstances 
so  often  bringing  into  office  utterly  incapable  men, 
who  have  been  raised  to  a  high  post  from  prudential 
motives,  relating  to  color  or  otherwise ;  while  on  the 
other  hand,  the  ignorant  masses  have  too  often  been 
the  victims  of  designing  men,  who  had  more  know 
ledge  than  conscience. 

If  Hayti,  therefore,  has  not  acquitted  herself  as  a 
nation,  let  her  at  least  be  fairly  dealt  with.  Doubt 
less  blame  and  censure  must  attach  somewhere  ;  but 
a  fair  and  candid  examination  of  this  subject,  which 


450  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE. 

would  show  difficulties  peculiar  to  her  case  and  gene 
ral  circumstances,  would  place  her  in  a  clearer  light 
before  her  friends. 

That  infidelity  in  all  forms  and  degrees  has  greatly 
prevailed  amongst  the  better  informed  of  this  Repub 
lic,  is  a  painful  and  undeniable  truth.  In  fact,  the 
tide  of  vice  rises  and  flows  from  the  first  Europeans, 
who  seized  these  shores,  the  first  wave  of  which  is 
seen  in  the  murderous  annihilation  of  the  aboriginal 
tribes,  the  theft  of  Africans,  the  introduction  of  con 
cubinage  and  even  libertinage,  with  the  merciless 
and  degrading  despotism  of  slavery.  These  were  the 
seeds  first  sown  upon  these  shores  by  European  hand?. 
Nor  let  it  be  supposed  that  they  have  not  abundantly 
produced  their  unhappy  effects,  especially  upon  the 
formation  of  the  original  politics  of  independent 
Hayti.  Doubtless  it  was  here  that  the  lesson  was 
learnt  of  power  in  the  hands  of  the  few,  thus  giving 
birth  to  an  aristocracy,  which,  with  Europe  at  that 
time,  believed  that  the  masses  did  not  need  educa 
tion — that  they  would  be  even  dangerous  with  it,  and 
were  therefore  better  without  it. 

The  Haytians  of  that  day  might  indeed  have  looked 
to  the  recently -formed  American  Republic  of  the 
United  States.  But  there  slavery  then  existed  with 
out  even  a  ray  of  hope  that  it  would  ever  cease  ;  and 
the  fame,  yea  very  existence  of  Hayti,  was  hated  by 
all  the  slave-ridden  powers  of  the  age.  Even  her 
neighbors,  English,  French,  Spanish,  etc.,  all  felt  that 
a  free  Black  Republic  in  the  midst  of  them  was  a 
shock  to  all  their  slavish  hopes.  Hence  all  Haytians 
were  spurned  from  their  shores,  or  if  thrown  there  by 
wreck,  the  free  Haytian  was  perhaps  thrown  into 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  451 

prison,  for  the  crime  of  being  free,  and  the  fear  of  the 
dangerous  contact  of  freedom  with  slavery. 

Circumstances,  therefore,  highly  honorable  to 
Hayti,  but  which  threw  a  deep,  dark  shade  over  all 
the  communities  around  her,  who  thought  themselves 
vastly  her  superiors,  doomed  this  Republic  to  long 
isolation.  The  Haytians  themselves  also  at  the  same 
time,  feeling  that  the  safety  of  their  liberties  de 
manded  this,  in  their  turn  proclaimed  that  no  white 
man  should  be  a  landed  proprietor  amongst  them ! 

Hayti,  indeed,  resolved  to  be  free  as  to  slavery  ; 
but  the  moral  chains  of  ignorance  and  vice,  even  to 
this  day,  hang  upon  her.  Hence  progress  in  its  full 
and  true  sense,  with  her,  has  been  impossible.  To 
infer,  however,  from  this,  that  nothing  has  been  done, 
would  be  unjust  and  untrue. 

It  is  now,  therefore,  for  an  honest  judgment  to  be 
formed  whether  the  Historical  Notes  and  Sketches  of 
Hayti,  contained  in  the  preceding  pages,  have  thrown 
any  satisfactory  light  on  African  independence  in 
this  Republic. 

That  it  might  and  ought  to  have  been  better  with 
Hayti  in  all  respects,  is  true ;  but  this  is  true  of  every 
nation  under  heaven. 

At  the  same  time,  the  construction  of  a  free 
Republic,  with  institutions  in  harmony  with  the 
spirit  of  the  age,  from  such  materials  as  we  have  seen 
and  examined,  beyond  doubt  has  in  it  extraordinary 
merit ;  and  it  will  be  for  posterity  to  decide  as  to  the 
degree  of  censure  for  innumerable  errors,  neglects, 
and  persistent  corruptions,  or  of  applause  for  so  much 
done  under  such  unparalleled  difficulties,  which 
should  be  awarded  to  Hayti.  That  she  has  exposed 


452  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

herself  to  censure  cannot  be  doubted,  either  by  her 
self  or  her  friends. 

Whether,  however,  considering  all  the  circum 
stances  of  the  case,  Hay  ti  has  not  done  what  no  other 
people  or  nation  ever  did  before,  is  worthy  of 
enquiry. 

England,  America  and  France  have  now  fully 
acquitted  themselves  on  the  African  question.  The 
black  communities,  under  their  rule,  are  and  will  be 
fairly  dealt  with.  Nevertheless,  the  principle  here 
maintained  remains  unaltered  and  untouched,  viz., 
that  independence  is  the  true  and  most  effectual 
means  of  development  for  any  people,  and  that  it  is 
to  be  preferred  whenever  it  becomes  necessary  for 
any  sound  and  sufficient  reason. 

That  the  United  States  of  America  could  ever  have 
been  what  they  now  are  by  any  other  means  than 
that  of  independence,  is  certain.  Nor  need  this  fact 
at  all  lessen  the  value  and  importance  of  sound 
colonial  government  as  the  cradle  of  independence,  as 
doubtless  it  was  always  intended  to  be. 

That  Hayti  could  never  have  had  the  same  hopes 
and  prospects  as  a  colony,  or  the  development  which 
she  has  already  realized,  cannot  be  a  matter  of  doubt. 
Her  revolutions  have  indeed  been  injurious  to  her ; 
but  however  frequent  they  may  have  been,  they  can 
only  be  viewed  as  political  diseases,  and  if  despite  of 
them  prosperity  has  been  realized,  the  proof  is  clear 
that  a  fair  order  of  things  would  have  fully  demon 
strated  the  advantages  and  superiority  of  indepen 
dence. 

It  is  to  be  remembered  that  the  colonial  wealth  of 
St.  Domingue  was  foreign,  belonging  mostly  to 


FKOM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  453 

French  citizens,  while  it  was  also  the  product  of  unfair 
means ;  and  if  it  were  even  proved  that  the  wealth 
of  the  colony  was  greater  than  that  of  the  free  and 
independent  Eepublic  of  Hayti,  it  would  still  remain 
a  fact,  that  the  Haytian  Kepublic  of  1868,  compared 
with  that  of  1804,  evidently  and  undeniably  shows 
an  immense  stride  in  general  progress.  Nor  can 
Hayti  be  otherwise  judged,  as  to  whatever  progress 
she  has  made,  than  by  comparison  with  herself, 
through  her  different  epochs. 

It  must,  however,  be  borne  in  mind,  that  in  ad 
dition  to  the  creation  of  all  her  own  pecuniary 
resources,  and  the  support  of  all  her  institutions,  as 
to  financial  demands,  Hayti  for  many  years  has  met 
the  enormous  annual  claims  of  France  for  landed 
property,  due  the  former  French  colonists,  the  sum 
total  of  which  will  be,  when  completed,  60,000,000 
of  francs. 

It  is  specially  worthy  of  notice,  that  while  every 
colony  still  surrounding  Hayti  is  more  or  less 
dependent  upon  its  parent  Government,  their  armies, 
navies,  functionaries,  and  sometimes  clergy,  being 
partially  sustained  from  home,  and  also  receiving 
every  help  and  sympathy  in  the  various  public 
calamities  of  earthquakes,  hurricanes,  and  fires,  Hayti 
has  fully  maintained  the  most  perfect  independence 
in  all  similar  cases.  Whether,  however,  on  this 
account  or  not,  no  friendly  hand  has  ever,  in  such 
calamities,  been  stretched  towards  her,  this  is  indeed 
no  honor  to  the  Christianity  of  her  neighbors.  But 
she  has  always  understood  her  position  ;  nor  has  she 
ever  needed  foreign  help  or  desired  it,  except  by  the 
fair  means  of  commerce. 


454 

It  is  unquestionably  to  the  honor  of  Hayti,  that  in 
this  sense,  her  independence  has  ever  been  complete. 
Most  emphatically  is  it  true,  that  she  owes  no  man 
anything,  and  when  her  foreign  debt  to  France  shall 
have  been  effaced,  her  already  sufficient  resources 
will  become  far  more  ample  than  ever. 

But  after  all,  the  fair  view  of  the  national  wealth 
as  resulting  from  independence,  is  only  to  be  seen  in 
the  distribution  of  all  the  national  resources  and 
individual  possessions.  In  this  view  of  the  case,  it 
will  at  once  appear  that  the  individual  and  family 
wants  of  a  half  a  million  of  free  citizens,  would  be 
incomparably  greater  than  in  the  same  number  of 
slaves,  including  even  a  few  thousands  of  their 
masters,  their  wants  being  doled  out  of  the  avarice 
of  their  yet  more  degraded  owners,  while  neither 
their  homes,  lands,  wives,  children,  or  even  them 
selves,  were  their  own.  But  freedom  and  inde 
pendence,  made  all  their  own  ;  and  the  transition 
from  poverty  to  comparative  wealth  becomes  evident. 
The  aggregate  wealth,  therefore,  of  the  free  half 
million,  compared  with  the  same  number  of  bond 
men,  without  anything  they  could  call  their  own, 
needs  no  comment.  The  present  aggregate,  there 
fore,  of  national  wealth,  viewed  in  this  sense,  would  un 
questionably  surpass  the  highest  colonial  realizations. 

Nor  should  it  be  forgotten,  in  addition  to  this,  that 
the  colonial  exportations  were  the  life  of  the  country, 
drained  not  for  itself,  but  to  be  exported  for  the  sup 
port  of  chateaus  upon  foreign  shores. 

Let  also  the  fact  be  kept  in  view,  that  since  the 
independence,  immense  fortunes  have  been  realized 
in  Ilayti,  both  by  foreigners  and  natives. 


FEOM  HISTOKICAL  NOTES.  455 

Hayti,  therefore,  and  her  independence  show 
bright  gleams  as  well  as  dark  shades,  and  it  will  be 
for  the  honest  and  impartial  judgment  of  mankind  to 
decide,  whether  a  nation,  which  has  demonstrated 
that  under  fair  circumstances  she  would  amply  and 
in  all  respects  acquit  herself,  does  not  justify  the 
best  hopes  as  to  the  future.  For  it  is  not  to  be  sup 
posed,  that  either  civil  wars  or  military  revolutions 
can  become  the  permanent  order  of  things. 

Contact  by  means  of  general  commerce  with  foreign 
nations  has  already  done  much  for  Hayti ;  and  with 
this  fact  before  us,  hope  must  become  yet  much 
brighter,  as  peace  shall  consolidate  all  interests,  and 
commerce  extend  itself,  which  must  ultimately  be 
the  case. 

The  evident  order  of  God,  with  regard  to  the 
human  family  is,  that  no  nation  should  live  apart,  or 
simply  to  itself.  Whether,  therefore,  any  nation  has 
a  right  to  be  permanently  exclusive,  in  the  sense  in 
which  this  was  once  essential  to  the  independence  of 
Hayti,  is  perhaps  questionable.  Certainly  such  a 
principle  in  a  righteous  order  of  things  amongst 
nations,  is  not  to  the  interest  of  any  country — all 
throughout  the  earth,  within  reasonable  limits,  would 
rather  appear  to  be  mutual. 

The  independence,  therefore,  advocated  here,  is  in 
no  sense  isolated,  but  is  perfectly  compatible  with 
the  most  distinct  identity  ;  the  highest  national  inde 
pendence  being  in  perfect  harmony  with  the  most 
complete  commercial  dependence  upon  each  other. 

Perhaps  we  are  safe  in  the  statement,  that  no 
country,  once  sunk  in  a  moral  sense,  ever  yet 
recovered  itself,  of  itself.  Hence  the  nations  of  the 


456  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

past  have  simply  disappeared  ;  their  ruin,  beyond  all 
doubt,  having  commenced  in  the  corruption  of  the 
moral  element,  certainly  not  from  any  want  of  intel 
lectual  capacity  or  general  intelligence. 

The  healing  of  the  nations  is  truly  a  beautiful 
thought ;  but  it  nevertheless  suggests  the  idea,  that 
the  whole  of  humanity  is  sick,  and  that  the  heart  of 
the  world  is  faint,  while  at  the  same  time  it  reminds 
us  that  the  healing  element  for  the  world  is  not  in 
itself.  It  is  not,  therefore,  in  any  special  sense, 
derogatory  to  a  nation  that,  morally,  she  cannot  heal 
herself.  There  is  not  and  never  was  a  nation  that 
lias  done  this ;  nor  is  it  to  be  supposed  that  Hayti 
will  be  an  exception  ;  in  this  she  is  in  the  same  case 
with  humanity  at  large.  Her  independence  or  dig 
nity  are  not  interfered  with  by  the  frailties  that  flesh 
is  heir  to;  her  guilt  is  in  the  "  love  of  darkness  rather 
than  light." 

That  there  is  a  healing  power  for  the  nations,  all 
true  Christians  believe,  and  that  the  command  to 
preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature,  had  essentially 
in  view  the  healing  of  the  nations  cannot  be  doubted. 
Men  cannot  heal  themselves,  but  heaven  will,  by 
their  consent.  The  great  business  of  Hayti,  there 
fore,  is,  to  accept  the  help  of  the  universal  Father. 
And  as  far  as  religious  toleration  is  concerned,  it 
must  be  admitted,  that  as  a  nation,  she  has  rather 
encouraged  than  spurned  religious  truth. 

Help  abounds ;  the  press,  with  all  its  moral  cor 
ruption,  pours  nevertheless  an  unceasing  flood  of 
light  upon  the  value  and  necessity  of  sound  moral 
principle. 

Science,  also,  well  directed  and  developed,  is   a 


FROM   HISTORICAL   NOTES.  457 

revelation  of  God,  and  is  not  without  a  moral,  ele 
vating  power. 

Above  all,  religion,  in  its  liglit,  its  life,  and  power, 
constitute  the  main-spring  of  human  welfare.  Nor  is 
this  a  mere  matter  of  national  creed  or  pompous 
forms,  which  rather  engender  pride  than  humility ; 
but  that  power  of  God,  in  and  amongst  men,  which 
alone  can  give  stability  to  that  independence  in  which 
the  Haytians  so  justly  glory. 

Nevertheless,  there  is  a  weak  point  in  the  govern 
ing  genius  of  Hayti,  and  this  unquestionably  exists  in 
her  revolutionary  tendencies.  It  is,  however,  a  weak 
ness  which  the  bare  exercise  of  common  sense  would 
cure.  For  where  is  the  common  sense  of  habitual 
reforms  by  the  sword  ?  The  fact  of  want  of  national 
solidity  takes  its  rise  here.  The  entire  life  and  energy 
of  the  nation  are  exhausted  in  revolutionary  struggles, 
which  are  far  worse  than  useless.  Changes  in  men 
simply,  without  any  in  principle,  except  that  a  bad 
man  has  often  been  exchanged  for  one  much  worse, 
and  this  worse  has  gone  on,  until  despair  has  almost 
quenched  the  nation's  hope. 

Still,  from  the  preceding  pages,  it  will  be  quite 
evident  that  a  great  amount  of  general  intelligence  is 
found  amongst  the  Haytians,  and  that  this  has  been 
the  case  from  the  beginning  of  the  Republic  down  to 
the  present  time.  Those,  too,  who  have  had  anything 
to  do  with  education  in  this  Republic,  are  convinced 
of  the  entire  capacity  and  aptitude  of  the  Haytian 
youth  of  both  sexes  for  every  branch  of  literature. 

A  fit  subject  here  offers  for  serious  study.  A 
grand  question  presents  itself  to  our  attention  in  the 
fact  now  before  us,  which  is,  that  general  knowledge 


458  HAYTIAN   INDEPENDENCE, 

is  possessed,  the  pen  is  wielded,  and  the  general  prin 
ciples  of  language  are  mastered,  with  much  besides  ; 
yet  all  is  paralyzed.  Nor  is  it  to  be  denied,  that 
many  other  nations  have  been,  and  still  are,  in  the 
same  case.  Where  and  what  is  the  true  solution  of 
this  great  question,  that  nations  possessing  all  needful 
intelligence,  become  mere  wrecks  ? 

This  question,  although  great,  and  involving  the 
best  interests  of  mankind,  is  singularly  simple.  All 
is  said,  as  to  its  solution,  in  the  plain  fact,  that 
human  beings  cannot  live  together  in  peace  without 
moral  culture,  and  the  universal  admission  is,  that 
this,  in  a  national  sense,  has  been  neglected  in  llayti. 

Plere  is  the  only  hope  of  man  ;  here,  therefore,  is 
the  only  hope  of  Hayti.  We  are  then  driven  to  the 
conclusion,  whether  we  will  or  no,  that  mere  intelli 
gence,  however  developed,  however  cultivated,  never 
did  and  never  will  suffice  for  the  right  and  efficient 
government  of  human  beings.  And  in  this,  perhaps, 
may  be  understood  the  saying  of  a  celebrated  infidel 
of  the  last  century,  that,  "  If  there  were  no  God,  it 
would  be  necessary  to  make  one !"  Doubtless  he 
meant  for  the  right  management  of  human  affairs. 

The  nature  and  constitution  of  man  evidently 
demands  more  than  mere  intelligence.  Nor  will  or 
can  our  hope,  in  any  moral  sense,  ever  be  realized  by 
a  mere  national  creed,  however  pure  or  good.  A 
power  must  be  brought  to  bear  upon  the  conscience, 
which  will  mould  and  form  it ;  an  element  must  be 
brought  into  human  hearts,  which  will  create  a  love 
of  good,  and  a  horror  of  evil ;  truth  must  be  loved, 
for  it  to  have  full  power ;  a  moral  state  of  things  to 
be  brought  about,  solely  by  the  knowledge  of  God 


FROM    HISTORICAL   NOTES.  459 

and  His  eternal  truth,  together  with  His  love  and 
life  within. 

The  great  Missionary  efforts  of  the  age,  therefore, 
by  all  and  every  means,  constitute  the  great  hope  of 
Hay  ti.  The  age  itself  is  in  a  sense  missionary ;  hence 
the  telegraph  and  steam  are  great  auxiliaries  to  the 
amelioration  of  mankind. 

But  the  great  missionary  work,  as  commenced  by 
Christ,  belongs  to  men  who  have  given  their  lives  in 
a  religious  sense  for  the  salvation  of  their  fellow-men, 
wherever  they  may  be  scattered  over  the  face  of  the 
earth.  That  the  Christian  church  has  been  charged 
by  its  great  and  glorious  Head  with  the  conversion 
and  salvation  of  the  world,  is  plainly  expressed  in  the 
last  command  of  the  Redeemer,  to  "  go  into  all  the 
world,  and  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature." 
That  this  church  is  guilty  before  God,  is  equally 
evident. 

Christian  faith  and  hope  look  for  the  day  when  the 
Christian  foreign  merchant  will  feel  far  more  deeply 
than  ever  that  his  moral  influence  and  bearing,  in 
the  community  where  his  lot  has  fallen,  are  of  incal 
culable  importance  both  to  the  people  themselves, 
and  his  own  honest  aims  and  hopes  of  wealth. 

Christianity,  thus  publicly  sanctioned  and  sustained 
by  foreigners  on  foreign  shores,  both  by  merchants 
and  ambassadors,  would  strike  into  silence  many  a 
taunt  which  is  often  thrown  at  the  Minister  of  the 
Gospel — "  Your  own  people  are  but  rarely,  if  ever, 
with  you  in  the  public  worship  of  God." 

On  the  subject  of  appeals  for  help  to  the  public  gen 
erally,  it  will  be  seen  by  the  preceding  pages  that 
the  foreign  merchants,  as  well  as  the  representatives 


460  HAYTIAN    INDEPENDENCE, 

of  foreign  Governments  in  Ilayti,  have  ever  done 
generously  ;  but  the  materials  of  the  great  temple  of 
God  among  men  consist  rather  in  "living  stones" 
than  in  gold  and  silver,  notwithstanding  the  erection 
of  edifices,  and  the  support  of  schools,  require  the 
latter. 

Differences  of  creed,  doubtless,  tell  here  ;  and  these 
differences  are  numerous  among  foreigners  in  Ilayti ; 
but  will  men  never  feel  that  they  are  brethren?  and 
that  the  worship  of  God  by  every  creed  is,  "  in  spirit 
and  in  truth"  ?  Will  intelligent  men  never  cease  to 
be  sectarian  ? 

Such  a  Missionary  power  brought  to  bear  upon  the 
world  would  become  a  moral  lever  of  irresistible 
power,  which  would  ultimately  lift  up  mankind  from 
the  dregs  of  vice.  Such  a  power  would,  long  ago, 
have  told  on  Ilayti ;  nor  ought  it  to  be  forgotten  that 
the  foreign  clement  throughout  the  world  has  often 
been  a  grand  stumbling  block  and  rock  of  offence. 
Men  leaving  their  Christian  homes,  and  finding  them 
selves  in  a  truly  moral  isolation,  have  yielded  to  the 
pressure  of  various  customs,  and  in  many  cases  have 
been  driven  on  by  the  overwhelming  torrent  of  evil, 
until  they  have  been  whirled  off  the  stage  of  life 
without  living  out  half  their  days. 

If  the  moral  element  of  God  within  us  is  needful 
for  one  part  of  the  human  race,  it  is  needful  for  all ; 
and  if  there  be  greater  need  in  one  class  than  in  ano 
ther  of  mankind,  of  the  power  and  life  of  God  within 
those  who  have  the  greatest  amount  of  human  wis 
dom  are,  unquestionably  in  such  a  matter,  the  most 
necessitous  of  all  men,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  simple 
fact,  that  true  religion  is  not  mere  knowledge,  but 


FROM    HISTORICAL    NOTES.  4:61 

that  great  power  within  which  is  called  the  Love  of 
God  I 

Hayti's  hope,  therefore,  is  in  God.  Let  those  who 
can  point  her  to  Him,  do  it  by  all  and  every  means ; 
nor  let  her  forget  that  she,  too,  must  save  herself. 


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